26th May, 2016
The United States Mission in Nigeria said on Thursday that it had in the last three years built the capacities of about 300 Nigerian journalists across the six-geopolitical zones.
Mrs Dehab Gebreab, outgoing U.S. Deputy Consul-General and Public Affairs Officer in Lagos, disclosed this during the sidelines of a retirement reception for her.
Gebreab said that the U.S. government had always believed that equipping Nigerian journalists with the ‘’necessary skills’’, would assist them in promoting the nation’s democratic process.
“I must express my appreciation to you, all journalists, who have worked with me closely in the course of assignment.
“We really understand the central role the Nigerian journalists plays in ensuring the success of Nigeria’s democratic process.
“The U.S. Mission has really done a lot in building the capacities of journalists across Nigeria in the last three years. We have trained about 300 Nigerian journalists within this period,” she said.
Ghebreab said that the training programmes, which were held in different states of the country, as well as in the United States, were meant to enhance professionalism in the journalists.
She enjoined the trained journalists to always apply the knowledge gained from the workshops and seminars in the day-to-day discharge of their responsibilities.
“Those journalists that have benefited from the different U.S. government-organised training programmes, any knowledge not put in use is lost.
“It is, therefore, important that they apply the knowledge gained by reporting accurately, objectively and professionally,” she said
The deputy consul-general and public affairs officer restated the U.S. government’s commitment to building the capacities of more Nigerian journalists in the near future.
The reception, which brought together journalists from different media organisations within and outside Lagos, was also organised for the retiring U.S. Consulate-General’s Information Specialist, Mrs Joke Omotunde.