The US Consulate says it is working to build the capacity of Nigerian journalists ahead of elections next year.
“We focus a lot on capacity building for journalists and we are just gearing up to do training for journalists who would be covering Nigeria’s elections as well as photo journalists,” Stephen Ibelli, Public Affairs Officer at the US Consulate General in Lagos, told Voice of Nigeria.
“It’s critically important because reporting accurately and reporting the facts on all of the candidates is very important. And not only that, but reporting on the elections themselves.
“It’s up to the Nigerians to decide on who they want, but what we work on is that accountability and that free and credible violence free election. That’s why we do the trainings.”
Stephen Ibelli spoke to Voice of Nigeria as the US Consulate hosted journalists to a Luncheon to end a month long of activities, including panel discussions and fact checking exercises, to mark World Press Freedom Day.
“It’s a capstone to celebrate the journalists who work day in day out reporting the truth and holding leaders accountable to the Nigerian people,” he said.
Press Freedom in Nigeria
The 2021 World Press Freedom Index ranks Nigeria at 120 out of 180 countries, with journalists facing harassment, arrest, and prosecution.
“Press freedom is an embodiment of freedom itself. You really need a press that is free to have a completely free society,” Upkai Ezera, Head of News at at Lasgidi FM, said.
Ukpai joined the dozens of journalists that recently finished a month long activities on press freedom hosted by the US Consulate in Lagos.
He said, while Nigeria needs to improve on its press freedom rankings, “journalists themselves have a responsibility to ensure whatever the do with their freedom as we so demand should not put society in danger.”
