August 13, (THEWILL) – Bayelsa-based journalists numbering over seventy, drawn from the print, electronic and online media, have continued to express their appreciation and commendation for the recent training programme held in Yenagoa, aimed at equipping journalists on their reportage of the upcoming November 11, 2023 Governorship election. They equally requested more of such training and implored other organisations to extend similar workshops to Bayelsa journalists, who are yearning for improved and enhanced professionalism.

Speaking to journalists, some of the participants, David Owei of THEWILL, said the three-day training was unprecedented and nonpareil, as the various resource persons enriched their knowledge and professionalism, especially as regards the next Governorship election.

Also speaking, Alaowei of the Environment Watch Newspapers said he looked forward to more impactful brainstorming workshops that will add more knowledge to his pool and further enrich his grasp of the journalism profession, which will make him practice more effectively.

Others who spoke and lauded IPC-CEMESO and urged for more such workshops were Victor Christopher of Niger Delta New Link, Ebiowe Lawal of Tribune Newspaper, Bassey Williams of Daily Trust, Samuel Ese, BusinessDay, Eunice Nnachi of Nigerian Pilot and Agadaga Idhiba of Atlantic Express Newspapers, Emem Idio of Vanguard Newspapers, Janet Tuomute of the Niger Delta Television, Favour Kei of NewWaves, Aqua Douye Akrurunku of Royal FM, Igonikon Oduma of Daily Independent, Nathan Nwankama of News Agency of Nigeria, amongst others.

In his remarks, the Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade, stated that the IPC believes that the media has an important role to play in ensuring that the citizens have credible information about the forthcoming election in Bayelsa state.

He said, “The citizens made their choices on the basis of reliable information, but it is the journalists that work in the media houses. We need to organise those even for journalists to look at different aspects of responsibility in the electoral process.

“We are interested in the issue of people who are generally unrepresented in the society who don’t have any voice, the women, the young people. That is why we talk about inclusivity, we feel that if journalists want to understand all these things, then they will be in a position to go out there to do stories that will be in the public interest.

“We are interested in knowing what the politicians want to do but we are more interested in journalists bringing to the attention of the politicians, what the people really want them to do for them if they get elected. So that is the essence of the workshop.”