As part of continuing efforts towards having a vibrant and healthy environment for discussion and decision-making in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, the Nigeria Strategy Support Program of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI-NSSP) delivered a policy communications training course for journalists in Delta State on 17-18 July 2018.
The 19 participants (16 male and 3 female) of the training included journalists from both private and government-owned media houses, representing mainstream radio, television and print firms.
The training covered topics ranging from the introduction of concepts in policy communications, to the use and tracking of content on social media and how to create online audiences. The participants had also the opportunity to apply the information and knowledge from the presentations in a series of exercises.
An immediate outcome of the training was the commitment journalists made to prepare more stories on agricultural issues in Delta State and Nigeria.
For many, like Abiodun Azi of the News Agency of Nigeria and Aiwerie Okungbowa of The Nation newspaper, the training has inspired and equipped them to use social media in their reporting and dissemination of news, especially those on agriculture. Azi, who is also a member of the Executive Committee of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), stated that the training course was of great value and needed to be delivered to as many journalists as possible.
This training is part of the activities of the Feed the Future Nigeria Agricultural Policy Project, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID/Nigeria) and jointly implemented by IFPRI-NSSP and Michigan State University.
