Nigeria Health Watch, in partnership with MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices (MSI Nigeria) and the Family Planning News Network (FPNN), has trained twenty journalists in Kano State on the principles and practice of solutions journalism, with a particular focus on reproductive health reporting.
The three-day field reporting trip was designed to provide journalists with hands-on experience in telling balanced stories that not only highlight reproductive health challenges but also spotlight effective responses and innovations addressing those challenges.
The participants, who form the first cohort of 2025 Solutions Journalists, were drawn from across northern Nigeria.
They took part in intensive sessions aimed at deepening their understanding of solutions journalism and its importance in shifting public discourse from problems to evidence-based solutions.
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Facilitators included Farouk Muhammad Bello and Abdullahi Isa Saminaka of MSI Nigeria, as well as Chibuke Alagboso, Kenneth Ibe, Samuel Gada, and Hadiza Muhammad from Nigeria Health Watch.
They guided participants through core concepts, best practices, and case studies demonstrating how solutions-focused reporting can make a significant impact in health communication.
The training also featured interactive engagements with key stakeholders from the Kano State Primary Healthcare Board.
Among them were Hajiya Fatima Mai Iyali, Family Planning Focal Person; Zara’u Ibrahim, Adolescents Focal Person; and Hauwa Aliyu, who provided insights into ongoing initiatives aimed at strengthening reproductive health services and promoting family planning in the state.
The facilitators emphasised that the initiative forms part of broader efforts to empower journalists to play a transformative role in shaping public perception, fostering accountability, and inspiring action through balanced, evidence-based reporting in line with the ethos of solutions journalism.