Building knowledge
To strengthen the capacities of media organisations like the Premium Times, UNESCO’s section for Media Development and Media in Emergency has launched the Climate Change in News Media initiative. Covering several regions worldwide severely hit by the effects of climate change, UNESCO partnered with the Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIJ) to train and mentor media organisations in Central and West Africa, including Premium Times.
Mojeed is considered by many to be Premium Times’ leading reporter on climate change, having written extensively on how Nigerian farmers adopt new technologies and methodologies to adapt to the environmental challenges it poses. Another topic he has been investigating is the use of funds stemming from Nigeria’s issuance of Green Bonds, to accelerate the adoption of climate smart solutions in the country.
UNESCO’s media capacity-building programme in Nigeria consists of an initial hands-on two-day workshop, followed by mentoring in the newsrooms. This to let the media organisations practice and implement the new technologies and methodologies.
Oil, oil, oil
As Nigeria is an oil-rich country, the Premium Times has plenty of environmental issues to cover. A recent story Chiamaka Okafor (senior reporter with Premium Times in Abuja) reported on was the soot pollution from the illegal small-scale refining of crude oil. For this she went on assignment to Port Harcourt, the capital and largest city of Rivers State, and a hub for the oil industry.
“As the result of the illegal processing of crude oil, soot goes up into the atmosphere and it affects livelihoods, and the water, which is consumed,” she said.
“Not only are the people there breathing the polluted air, but also drinking the water every day, both have major implications for their health,” Okafor pointed out.
Both are grateful and see the need for the capacity-building their newspaper has received.
Source: unesco.org
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