US Government To Train 100 Journalists For Coverage Of 2019 Election

LAGOS MAY 3RD (NEWSRANGERS)-The United States of America has affirmed its desire to train no fewer than one hundred Nigerian journalists on election reporting for the effective coverage and objective reporting of the 2019 general election.
US Consul General in Nigeria, Mr F. John Bray who made the pronouncement while delivering a welcome address during a programme organized in commemoration of 2018 World Press Freedom Day with the theme “Media and the Transparency of the 2019 Election” at the Radisson Blu Hotel GRA, Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday, disclosed that the training schedule would be held in four cities across southern Nigeria and would be co-facilitated by Voice of America’s Director of International Media Training and a renowned Nigerian journalism professor.
According to him, the training is designed to help the media further appreciate their huge responsibility of reporting accurately on elections and electoral processes.
“In addition to this, the United States has worked with Nigeria to strengthen democratic institutions for decades and will continue to do so. Some of you may know that the U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has assisted Nigeria with strengthening the elections process since 1999.
“Working with Nigerian and international partners, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria has also engaged diplomatically and publicly to prevent violence and increase accountability, contributing significantly to the goal of free, fair, credible, and peaceful elections in Nigeria,” John Bray revealed.
He pointed out that peaceful and credible elections are essential to Nigeria’s continued economic, political, and social development, adding that Nigeria plays a vital role on the world stage and as the largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria’s stability is crucial to the security and economic prosperity of the rest of the continent.
Stressing that Nigeria’s future is full of promise and opportunity, John Bray affirmed that the U.S. government is dedicated to supporting Nigerians in ensuring that the 2019 elections will be transparent, credible, and peaceful.
“Before I joined the Department of State, I was a reporter. Based on my experience, I know that as reporters and editors, each of you has an important role to play in the electoral process.
“When people don’t have the facts, they make up and that creates unstable environments, rife with rumors, gossip and lies. And you, as journalists, make sure this doesn’t happen, by providing information, researching, conducting interviews, and then educating the electorate.
“The people of Nigeria rely on your unbiased and accurate coverage of the campaign season and the elections. That is why your role is so important. As the 2019 election draws near, the U.S. Mission supports your efforts to provide objective and balanced reporting to the Nigerian people,” he stated.
John Bray recalled that as a Consul General for nearly six years in Nigeria, he had visited each of the 17 states in southern Nigeria with almost all of them on multiple locations.
“I have spoken with hundreds, perhaps thousands of Nigerians about democracy, elections, and the history of Nigeria. These conversations have confirmed my belief that Nigeria has a vibrant democracy. Democratic societies are not infallible, but they are accountable, and the exchange of ideas is the foundation for accountable governance.” he noted.

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