A media and capacity-building non governmental organization; FrontFoot Media Initiative has announced its readiness to host the fifth edition of the Audit Reporting Training programme for journalists in Gombe.

A press statement signed and made available to Jewel Times by the training coordinator Chido Nwakanma, said the Initiative will hold the training under the auspices of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism and the sponsorship of the MacArthur Foundation.

A director at FrontFoot Media Mr Emeka Izeze, said “The Gombe programme will feature participants not only from Gombe State but also from the neighbouring states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Plateau, and Taraba, a testament to the inclusivity and reach of FrontFoot’s training initiatives. We look forward to training about 40 media personnel, each of whom plays a crucial role in our media landscape.”

The media initiative has previously organized similar trainings for journalists in Benin, Awka, Abuja, and Lagos.

The statement said Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya may address participants in line with an agenda of openness and accountability.

“Mr Ismaila Zakari, former president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, an Internal Auditor of Premium Pensions Abuja, and an ICAN Fellow, will lead the training supported by Mr Yusuf Doma, a Fellow of ICAN and Internal Auditor at Premium Pensions Abuja. Their expertise and guidance will ensure a high-quality learning experience for all participants”, the statement added.

FrontFoot Media Initiative describes the programme as “a flagship capacity development programme of FrontFoot Media Initiative. It is a Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability project.”

The Training Coordinator Mr Chido Nwakanma concluded that “In this effort, FrontFoot teams, accompanied by experts in the field, work in pre-selected states where they conduct free training for journalists. Participants learn how and where to locate the relevant reports, interpret the material, and write engaging news stories and features that enlighten, stimulate, and empower the electorate as well as discourage impunity.”

Frontfoot Media Initiative aims to promote media literacy, critical thinking, and fact-checking skills in Nigeria.

It works to combat misinformation and disinformation by providing trainings, resources, and workshops for journalists, students, and the general public.

Its goal is to promote a culture of fact-based reporting and informed public discourse.