Continuous self-reflection and responsiveness to feedback are indispensable for the media in fulfilling its role as watchdogs. Fisayo Soyombo, Editor-in-Chief of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), said this during a visit of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism team to the FIJ office on Thursday, 7 March 2024 as part of activities under the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development, Inclusivity and Accountability (CMEDIA). Soyombo who joined virtually emphasised that the variables are crucial for transparency, accountability, and journalistic integrity.
Seated from left to right: Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, CMEDIA Technical Adviser and Damilola Ayeni, Editor, FIJ
Source: WSCIJ
Highlighting FIJ’s activities and impacts under the CMEDIA project, Damilola Ayeni, Editor, FIJ, stated that ‘Arrows of God,’ one of its stories, led to the rescue of 20 children and the closure of the orphanage centre responsible. Some other stories exposed the scam pregnancy ring in Eastern Nigeria, sharp practices within the private sector and unethical behaviours of Palmcredit. He revealed that their recent report, ‘Undercover as a smuggler’, under the CMEDIA project unmasked the porous nature of Nigeria’s land borders and the collusion between smugglers and Customs officers to pervert justice. He said with the CMEDIA intervention, FIJ has grown stronger and influenced others through training and seminars for the next generation of investigative reporters.
In her feedback, Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, CMEDIA Technical Adviser, commended the FIJ team and said the centre is proud to partner with them. Ogwezzy-Ndisika emphasised that journalism that targets social change is inherently risky, underscoring the critical importance of journalists’ safety. For her, the continued growth of FIJ and other partners under the CMEDIA project is one of the biggest wins for WSCIJ, as she affirmed the centre’s support for FIJ in its quest for social change.
Samson Ademola, Programme Officer at WSCIJ, lauded FIJ for its intentionality in amplifying its investigations and subnational issues to the national spotlight for impactful outcomes. Other members of the WSCIJ team present were Emem Nssien, CMEDIA Finance Officer and Oni Afolabi, Communications Office. On the FIJ team were Valentine Chukwu, Monitoring and Evaluation officer; Ogunfowote Damilola, Finance Officer and Tolulope Abimbola, Administrative Officer.
The visit was part of activities under the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development, Inclusivity and Accountability (CMEDIA) project. The visit provided the WSCIJ team with an opportunity to gain deeper insights into the activities of CMEDIA partners, discuss their accomplishments, and challenges and offer essential feedback. With the support of the MacArthur Foundation, the project supports 26 partner organisations to enhance media independence, government accountability and public awareness at the state, local, and private sector levels. It also amplifies marginalised voices and promotes transparency and good governance at the subnational level.
