At least fifty journalists in the South-South and South East regions have been trained on how to cover the technology and innovation ecosystem in the Niger Delta and beyond.
The two-day workshop was put together by a development and advocacy outfit known as Startup South Enterprise Development LTD/GTE ahead of its annual technology conference in October. Addressing the participants, the Convener of StartUp South, Uche Aniche, said the workshop will enable journalists in the Niger Delta region to better understand the terms and tools of innovative technologies.
He said, “We feel that enough people are not taking advantage of the opportunities that exist in technology and the start-up ecosystem. If the journalists and the media understood this space a lot more, then it will be possible to expand and build the value that the start-up space can provide; that's the essence of what we are doing, he added.
On her part, the News Manger of Nigeria Info FM, Port Harcourt, Chioma Ezenwafor, who was one of the facilitators at the workshop, said the training will help the selected journalists ask the right questions in the world of tech. She said, “the ordinary journalist may not really understand the technicalities around it to be able to ask the necessary questions. But the tech journalist will understand the implications and be able to ask the right questions and even know who to ask, which government entity to ask, and if it's a company, the company to call out.”
She also noted the need to hold those in power accountable. “To hold power accountable here is not just the government or the tech companies. When we understand the tech landscape and the ecosystem better, especially for this South-South and South-East region, we will be able to hold people accountable and help to protect the rights of the people.”
The workshop is supported by the Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Empowerment Foundation, ICCEF.
