On 22-23 October 2018, a team of two Policy Communications experts from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)'s Nigeria Strategy Support Program delivered an intermediate Policy Communications training course for journalists from the National Assembly (NASS) Press Corps in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. The twelve journalists (11 males and 1 female) were trained in the use of online systems for disseminating policy-relevant information and the development of communication strategies and plans. This training built upon knowledge and skills gained in an introductory Policy Communications training course held earlier in 2018.
It is expected that following this training the capacity of journalists in generating useful evidence in the formulation of agricultural policies in Nigeria would be enhanced. According to one of the training participants and a Correspondent with the Sun Newspapers, “these trainings are a real value added to me as a journalist. I have personally found that the knowledge from the earlier training helps me not only with my work covering NASS, but also beyond it. I had an assignment earlier this year that involved an understanding of Policy Communications and I was able to carry it out because of the introductory Policy Communications course earlier this year”.
This training was organized as part of the activities of the Feed the Future Nigeria Agricultural Policy Project which is jointly implemented by Michigan State University and IFPRI-NSSP and funded by the United States Agency for International Development.
