By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye has said the training of journalists reporting the activities of the Commission cannot be over emphasied.
Speaking on Monday while declaring open the Two-day Capacity Building for the Media Reporting ICPC Activities holding at the Auditorium, ICPC Headquarters in Abuja, Owasanoye insists that training of reporters covering the Commission will enable them to
report accurately in ways that do not exaggerate the ICPC achievements or under report its achievements.
According to him: “another reason for this training is to hopefully improve the capacity at reportage so that the information does not become asymmetrical or misleading whereby things ascribed to the Commission that we do not have the capacity to do or they are exaggerated on behalf or in favor of the commission, which then heighten public expectation”.
Speaking further, he said: “So this engagement will help us to report accurately in ways that do not exaggerate our achievements or under report our achievements.
“We also believe that this engagement will improve your own knowledge of the sector in various measures by which corruption can be tackled, not just by investigation and prosecution and how this is communicated to secure public support.
“We do recognize the role of the media in raising public awareness, shaping public discourse and opinion and of course contributing to development. Unfortunately it’s not only our job that are threatened, yours too because everyone with and average digital device is a journalist now and once they have a smartphone, they can create news and sometimes they are believed over and above those of you who have been trained to report news in a balanced way recognizing the consequences and the risk of misreporting”
The ICPC boss however lamented about the scourge of untrained reporters who he said are wrecking havoc to the profession and regretted that their activities will not benefit the society in the long run.
“But many of these high street reporters who have no training whatsoever beyond a smart phone with the video camera lens and the ability to record, they cannot be bothered. So, one of the things that should be of concern to both of us, yourselves and ourselves is the risk of the misuse of this ability.
“I’m sure many of you follow the trend and development in technology, u don’t know if you are as horrified as I am and worried as to role that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is going to play in the future, and when I say future I’m not talking about the future that is very distance, the future that is already with us like tomorrow and we have a duty to close ranks about deciding how we will continue to communicate professionally bearing the risk of this reporting and fake news in mind because fake news and news reporting threaten all of us, it threatens the stability of the state and professional competency and our livelihood.
“I want to urge you to use this opportunity to establish a relationship with us, not just a relationship that demands of us that we should tell you when we get a high profile fish that we are investigating but a relationship that helps us to discuss how to deal with the scourge of corruption. What are the challenges that we face, what are the challenges that you as journalists who report these things and are also attacked and at risk globally and how they can be mitigated.
“I’m hoping that this interaction will help us to close those gaps and strengthen our mutual collaboration, our commitment as an institution and as an agency remains solid. It is statutory, we can’t negotiate it away, we just have the duty to do what we have to do but we are hoping that we’ll be better able to do it with your support and collaboration”, Owasonoye stated.
Meanwhile, the first day of the training, saw Mr. Jude Okoye present a paper titled “Overview of ICPC Achievements (2019 to 2023)” and Mr. Ebenezer Shogunle’s paper centered on “Understanding the Process of Prosecution of Corruption Cases and Terminologies”.
Also, Mr. Mohammed Ashiru Baba presented a paper titled “ICPC Initiatives-NEIP, CEPTL, Sexual Harassment, etc” while Professor Elijah Okebukola presented a paper titled “Measuring Progress in the Fight against Corruption”.
The event will continue in Abuja tomorrow with more papers expected to be delivered by prominent media practitioners.
