Media Trust receives accolade at journalism workshop…as investigative journalists launch network

The media outfit received this accolade at the recently orgainsed inaugural workshop for Nigerian Investigative Journalism Network by Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) in Lagos. Musikilu Mojeed, one of the leading discussants at the event was quick to highlight the role played by Media Trust, leading to the ouster of the former Speaker […]

The media outfit received this accolade at the recently orgainsed inaugural workshop for Nigerian Investigative Journalism Network by Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) in Lagos.

Musikilu Mojeed, one of the leading discussants at the event was quick to highlight the role played by Media Trust, leading to the ouster of the former Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, during her N608 million scandal. Mojeed said it was Media Trust that led a campaign which was later joined by the Integrity Group and the civil societies.

“ I remembered that during the House renovation saga that got Olubunmi Etteh out of her seat as the Speaker of House of the Representatives, Sunday Trust consistently published series of detailed reports. It was the medium’s effort that later brought in the Integrity Group and a number of civil society groups into the struggle that eventually cost Etteh her seat,” Mojeed said.

Dapo Olorunyomi, the Executive Director of WSCIJ, in his opening remarks also lauded the unwavering effort of Media Trust especially the Sunday Trust which he said, have carved a niche for themselves in investigative reportage.

In his presentation, Theophilus Abbah, the Editor, Sunday Trust who was another discussant at the event said it has become imperative for journalists to take up the gauntlet of investigative journalism to become change agents in the society.

Abbah cited some of the high-flying reports published in Sunday Trust in recent times to buttress his presentation. He observed that since the legislators have failed to checkmate the excesses of the executive, just as civil societies and opposition parties have failed to act as watchdogs of those in corridors of power, the media have every reason to sustain the struggle through investigative journalism.

“Investigative journalism has become necessary because the legislative arm has failed in checkmating executive. Law enforcement agencies have also failed. Political parties which are in opposition only make noise just to be seen. Civil societies are looking for the next available funds to sponsor their programmes. Religious bodies are polarized. It is only the media that can bring about desired change through investigative journalism,” Abbah said.

Earlier in her presentation, the guest speaker, Margaret Renn, a senior fellow in investigative journalism department of the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, said apart from taking up issues against the powerful and the corrupt in the society, investigative journalists must always speak for the voiceless. “We investigate the corrupt, the rich and the powerful people. But we must also serve as the voice of the voiceless in our societies,” Renn said.

Renn alluded to several cases in British and South African media industries to reinforce her positions. She called on journalists to often go beyond the ordinary while investigating events but was also quick to caution them to refrain from what is unacceptable to the populace as was the case in the News of the world phone hacking scandal.

Participants at the event were later grouped into four classes after the guest speaker and other discussants had presented their papers. The break-out session allowed them to brainstorm and contribute their thoughts as they affect challenges facing investigative journalism in Nigeria, needs assessment for the network and the structure required to ensure it remains functional and sustainable.

The workshop which was held with funding support from the British High Commission, ended with the formal inauguration of the Nigerian Investigative Journalism Network (NIJN) by Margaret Renn.