By Kolade Adeyemi, Kano
The Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Prof. Muhammad Yahuza Bello, has charged journalists to embrace investigative and data-driven journalism, describing it as the only weapon to fight corruption and promote democracy.
Yahuza, who stated this during the opening ceremony of a two-day experience sharing workshop on investigative journalism for Nigerian and Ghanaian journalists, lecturers and students of Mass Communication in universities and polytechnics held at the BUK, said without investigative journalism, Nigeria’s nascent democracy will remain in jeopardy.
Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Prof Adamu Idris Sambo, he noted that BUK has spent millions of naira to improve the faculty of communications, so as to make it a world-class institution that can groom journalists who have the capacity to make serious impacts on the country’s democratic development.
“Today’s activity is part of a series of activities being implemented in the faculty with the support of the MacArthur Foundation, which has given us a grant to strengthen the teaching and research of investigative and data-driven journalism to reduce the prevalence of corruption in the country.
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“So far, with the grant, we have established a new multi studio digital radio station, set up a150-computer laboratory, given scholarship support to about 100 undergraduates and post-graduates female students as well as supported a number of knowledge enhancement activities.”
“Most importantly,” he said, “the grant has helped Nigeria through Bayero University that led to the process to review and unbundle the national Mass Communication curricular.”
He said the renewed curricular has been designed to change the face and process of communication studies in Nigeria to ensure that what is offered in Nigerian universities align with global dynamics in Information Communication Technologies (ICT), as well as the changing realities in the country.
Yahuza further stated that good journalism based on credibility, ethics and data is critical to national development, pointing out that “quality investigative journalism is central in winning the current war against corruption in the country.”
Also speaking, Prof. Umaru Pate of the Post Graduate School of the University, delivering the welcome address, commended the lead presenter in the workshop, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, for his doggedness in the promotion of undercover and investigative journalism.
He said notable examples of the tangible impacts of the Ghana-born Anas’ works have contributed to the jailing of corrupt leaders in Ghana and across Africa.
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