Over 60 journalists drawn from diverse sectors of the media, including print, broadcast and online media have gathered in Lokoja, Kogi state for a three day workshop targeted at improving their reporting skills in today’s digital world.
The workshop which is organised by Folio Media Creative Academy (FMCA) in partnership with Dangote Group, owned by Africa’s Richest man, Mr. Aliko Dangote commenced on Wednesday.
According to the Chief Operations Officer, Folio Communications, Mr. Pius Alabi, the three days workshop with the tittle, “Critical Media Practice: The Convergence Journalism” is meant to equip participants with knowledge for the job so as to impact on the society.
Guest Lecturers for the workshop are drawn from reputable organisations; Abdulkareem Baba Aminu, the longest serving editor with Daily Trust, Likan Otufodunrin, a multimedia journalist and media career development expert and Dr. Onakpa Mohammed Shaibu, a senior lecturer in mass communication department, Kogi State University.
Speaking on the sideline of the training, the cooperate communication manager of the Dangote group, Tony Chiejina, said one of the cardinal objectives of the company is not just to maximize profit but to lend a helping hand to Nigerians through skills acquisition and empowerment.
On the importance of the training, he averred that the group has very robust relationship with the media, hence the need to empower them through the training to that they can be abreast with modern trends in the industry.
He noted that the Aliko Dangote Foundation has pumped in over $1. 25 million dollars to assist the poor and the vulnerable in the society.
In addition he said the Dangote group has sunk boreholes, built hospitals, support cooperative groups, construction of concrete roads, award of scholarships and creating massive employment opportunities as part of its cooperate social responsibility.
Some participants who spoke to our correspondent said they look forward to learning new skills during the workshop
A participant, Debra Iyiola Samuel from NTA, Kogi, noted that the training was not only timely but would assist media practitioners to be abreast with modern trend in the industry.
He particularly stressed that one of the lectures ‘Media convergence” which allows multiple tasks to be performed on a single device, would equip journalists on how to adjust to these new developments.
