NIJ Becomes First School to Produce Nigeria Health Watch Solutions Journalism Cohorts


 


Nigerian Institute of Journalism has become the first school to produce student cohorts that will expand the practice of Solutions Journalism in Africa.   

Solutions Journalism adopts a solutions-oriented approach to journalism; telling rigorous, investigative, and compelling stories of responses to various social problems so that they can be scaled up or replicated elsewhere. It differs from traditional, often problem-focused journalism because it highlights what works, as opposed to what does not, and goes further to investigate why an intervention or solution to a social problem was able to bring change. 

Three nominees from 10 newsrooms from across Nigeria participated in a two-day in-person training in Abuja to learn why solutions journalism matters and the framework for producing it and among these, NIJ produced the first set of student cohorts to grace the training.  

Three final year students from NIJ – Kehinde Ogunronbi, Noah Aderoju, and Adedapo Adesanya were trained in the rudiments of solutions journalism and telling important stories about responses to social problems across Nigeria.  

Speaking at the training, the Managing Director of Nigeria Health Watch, Mrs Vivianne Ihekweazu said “It is important to look at how communities and individuals are solving various social problems and provide them with platforms to show what they are doing despite the challenges.”  

The initiative, she said, therefore presents a unique opportunity to redefine the way news is reported in Nigeria – providing an alternative news option and empowering Nigerians by showing where solutions have been found to everyday problems in the country, and not only reinforcing the often-accepted narrative.  

In her remarks, Ms Ruona Meyer, the Africa Initiative Manager at the SJN said negative reporting has denied audiences of a holistic view of the news and denied journalists the power to build society through constructive reporting. 

She encouraged the participants to be part of this movement that is ensuring that audiences are empowered with the contents they consume. 

The training culminated in a visit to the Wassa Internally Displaced Persons camp where participants interacted with community members to not only learn about their challenges but also how they are working hard to respond to those challenges. 

A Different Aspect of Journalism 

Sharing their experiences, Miss Ogunronbi said – "At the in-person training, we were not just taught what to do alone, we were showed how to do them by actually going out to do the fieldwork. Like it is usually said, you can’t learn everything from the four walls of the school, part of the learning we did was on the field of Wassa community to visit the IDPs camp.

"It is a refreshing one I must confess, different from the usual practice of journalism that we are taught in school.

"I can’t wait to dive into solutions journalism."

Adding his input, Mr Adesanya said, "The media space, especially in Nigeria is littered with so many negatives, so it is easy for the good things submerged by these. The solutions journalism has opened my eyes to the many ways that we can bring to the fore these lights hidden by the shades of bad happenings. And I have been equipped with the necessary arsenal. I cannot wait."

To Mr Aderoju, "Teachings within four walls, they say can only amount to a minute per cent of requisite for the mastery of any profession, the two-day training provided an amazing exposure for me.

"Aside from the super engaging sessions, the field trip and insightful conversation and interaction with fellow delegates were the highlights of the program for me.

"Solutions journalism can't be more interestingly introduced than this way. Now, it is time to not only hold the society and stakeholders accountable by being watchdogs but by also being the guidedogs that show what works in the society and help amplify them for adoption," he added. 


The practice of Solutions Journalism has continued to grow in Africa and the Nigeria Health Watch Torchlight series uses the approach to report on responses to health problems in Nigeria, with the Torchlight Africa series providing narratives of solutions in other African countries. 

To further expand the practice in Africa, the Solutions Journalism Africa Initiative will train newsrooms in Nigeria and Kenya on solutions journalism. 

Following their training, the journalist nominees from the newsrooms will be supported and mentored over five months to investigate, write, produce, publish, or broadcast their solutions stories. 

 

NHW Announces 2022 Solutions Journalism Africa Fellowship 




Also, a fellowship known as the Solutions Journalism Africa fellows was launched by the organisers as part of the Initiative. These fellows also joined the newsroom nominees in the training. They will also be supported to produce their stories and other fellowship deliverables in the next four months. 

 

The 2022 Solutions Journalism Africa Fellows are:  

• Israel Olatunji Tijani  

• Umo Akwang  

• Adam Alqali 

• Blessing Oladunjoye  

• Rasheed Ademola Adebiyi 

• Usman Aliyu 

• Abiodun Jamiu 

• Folakemi Ajala 

• Misbahu el-Hamza 

• Emiene Erameh. 





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