The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, has restated its commitment to strengthening the media landscape as it opened the Change Your Story (CYS) capacity-building workshop for journalists in Lagos.
Delivering the opening remarks, the manager corporate communications and public Affairs, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku welcomed participants and reaffirmed NLNG’s dedication to advancing professional journalism through continuous training and knowledge sharing.
She explained that the programme, which began in 2014, has steadily grown into one of the country’s most respected media training initiatives.
According to her, the latest workshop represents the second edition of the programme for the year and the sixteenth overall since its launch.
“Over the years, more than 400 journalists across Nigeria have benefited from this digital skills enhancement programme,” she noted, saying that every edition continues to deliver unique learning experiences for participants.
She further emphasised that journalism plays a critical role in shaping public understanding of complex issues.
“Journalists do far more than simply report events. They interpret issues and help the public understand decisions that affect their lives, particularly in a world where audiences are constantly navigating social and economic challenges.”
According to Palmer-Ikuku, the training aims to provide journalists with modern tools, professional insights, and digital solutions that will enable them to report more effectively and accurately.
Furthermore, Palmer-Ikuku encouraged participants to take full advantage of the three-day workshop, which will feature sessions on multimedia storytelling, digital verification, professional safety, and leadership.
“Our goal is to equip you with the latest knowledge and tools that will make your work easier, sharper, and more impactful,” she added.
Broader Vision
Earlier, the founder and director of The Journalism Clinic, Taiwo Obe, highlighted the broader vision behind the programme.
He stressed that the training initiative remains firmly rooted in a clear mission: to cultivate and mentor a new generation of first-rate journalists in Nigeria.
Obe urged participants to remain open-minded and to focus on how their work can create meaningful impact.
Many of the journalists, he noted, expressed a strong desire to produce stories that inspire positive change.
“This programme,” he assured them, “will help you achieve that goal.”
Providing further context for the workshop, international media trainer, Dan Mason introduced three guiding principles that shape the Change Your Story programme.
These pillars, he explained, are Recalibrate, Create, and Connect.
First, he encouraged participants to recalibrate by reflecting on their professional direction and identifying new opportunities for growth.
“In journalism, standing still is not an option. If you are not moving forward, you are effectively moving backward,” he stated.
Again, Mazon urged journalists to create, noting that the workshop would explore modern storytelling techniques and digital tools that can significantly enhance newsroom productivity.
He said the training sessions would cover areas such as artificial intelligence, mobile-first video reporting, and multimedia content production.
Finally, he highlighted the importance of connection, encouraging participants to learn not only from facilitators but also from each other.
“You will gain as much insight from your colleagues as you will from the trainers,” Mason added.