Recognising the vital importance of a free press and ‘the Fourth Estate’ to democracy and good governance, the United States Embassy and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), yesterday, in Lagos, co-launched the first of six media-focused Town Halls and Workshops that would take place across the country in the next several months.
The capacity-building programme would provide a forum for over 200 participating Nigerian editors and leaders of the independent press to discuss and share best practices, and to also hear from U.S. experts on topics such as journalistic standards, identifying bias, and conducting fact-based investigative reporting to better inform the Nigerian public.
Delivering keynote remarks at the opening ceremony in Lagos, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard discussed the challenges faced by Nigeria and other democracies across the world.
She also highlighted democracy’s greatest strengths: the ability to improve upon and reinvent itself.
“When the citizenry’s belief in democracy, good governance and elections are restored, invariably they will want to be a part of that system and will defend it”, she said.
Leonard noted, “Our hope is that in this forum today is that you will lead and serve as catalysts for further discussions on countering disinformation; increasing transparency; solution building; and encouraging media literacy and their contribution to a democracy that is accountable to its people.”
Also speaking, General Secretary of NGE, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, said, “At the end of the project, we expect to see a pool of Nigerian editors, senior journalists and media managers, who will be galvanised and committed to the highest ethical standard and to take robust actions as Editors who will be committed to the promotion and protection of the right to independent press, freedom of expression and deepening democratic space; and constantly projecting issue-based governance in defense of the mass of the Nigerian people.”
The Town Halls and editor workshops are supported through a public diplomacy grant from the U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Section in Abuja to the Nigerian Guild of Editors.
In addition to Lagos, the programmes would take place in Kano, Yola, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Enuguin January, 2022.
According to a statement by the Public Affairs Section of the Embassy made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt, yesterday, “The U.S. Government is committed to initiatives that build media capacity in Nigeria. For years, the U.S. Mission has funded partnerships that promote Nigeria’s democratic governance, unity and stability by improving government transparency and accountability, the rule of law, a free and professional media, as well as civil society capacity and engagement.
“Webinars, seminars, workshops, and U.S.based training opportunities such as the International Visitor Leadership Programme and Foreign Press Centre International Reporting Tours demonstrate our commitment to the proud partnership that we have long enjoyed with Nigeria”, it added.

By: Nelson Chukwudi