THE Deputy Executive Director of Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND), Mr Tunji Idowu, has underscored why the foundation takes much pleasure in conducting capacity training workshops for journalists across the country.
He said the essence was to build the capacity of journalists so they could do their work effectively as well as make them aware of the success story of PIND in the areas of economic development, projects performance, peacebuilding, capacity building analysis and advocacy in the Niger Delta.
Addressing journalists from the United States on phone on the second day of the two-day capacity building workshop which ended on Tuesday at PIND’s Egbokodo office in Warri, Delta State, Idowu explained that the foundation is focused on making the economy of the Niger Delta better than it has done so far.
He noted that PIND remained glued to building partnerships that’ll engender peace and encourage equitable economic prosperity of people of the region.
Mr Idowu further disclosed that PIND is ready to share data with journalists on agriculture, other areas of economic growth and peacebuilding initiatives.
He urged journalists to assist in not only showcasing the activities and successes of PIND but should also sensitize various levels of government to build more infrastructures such as roads in the region.
The two-day intensive training tagged: Capacity Building for Local Empowerment (CAPABLE), was centred on Solutions and Investigative Journalism, and over 20 journalists selected from across the country, were in attendance.
A number of seasoned journalists including Prof Ibanga Isine, Rafat Salami and Adeshola Komolafe of Oak Centre for Journalism Development and facilitators from PIND trained participants on new trends on Investigative Journalism, Solutions Journalism and Data Journalism respectively.
Besides, journalists were also broached up on how to generate story ideas, gather data, communication skills and ethics, as well as challenges journalists, encounter in the course of their job and possible solutions.
Facilitators from PIND took the journalists through the labyrinths of the foundation such as using market systems development to increase income and employment in the Niger Delta, building capacity to attract resources for development activities and network development approach to peace-building, among others.
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Journalists were led to facility tour of Appropriate Technology Demonstration (ATED) Centre at the premises of PIND where the working of a bio-digester used to produce pure methane gas from human wastes for cooking was showcased and the aquaculture intervention site harbouring hundreds of fish ponds at Egbokodo.
The participants were assessed on Tuesday, August 7, which was the final day, after which they embarked on the last tour to Finger Chops Ventures, bakers of Finger Chops bread located along Airport Road, Warri.
The ventures, according to the manager, Mr Sylvanus Ozor, has benefitted from PIND immensely such that there’s a marginal increase in the production quantum of about 40 per cent through funds accessed and expended equipment upgrade.
PIND is a non-profit organization set up by Chevron Corporation to build partnerships and equitable development in the Niger Delta with core values centred on partnership and collaboration, learning and innovation, stewardship, integrity and sustainability.
It’s projected interventions cut across the nine Niger Delta states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers states
The journalists training workshop which held at the Economic Development Centre in Warri, started August 6 and ended 7 with participants issued certificates.
The beneficiaries commended PIND for the initiative, with a pledge to put in use what they had learnt at the two-day capacity building workshop.