Media practitioners in the Northeast charged to adopt investigative journalism for national development.

BY UMAR MUHAMMAD SHIRA

Media practitioners in the North-East sub region have been charged to adopt investigative Journalism approach to chart a new course for national development.

Director MacArthur Foundation in Nigeria Dr. Kole Shettima gave the charge while declaring open a two day media round table meeting on issues and challenges in investigative and Data driven Journalism for the region held at Federal University of Kashere in Gombe State.

Dr Kole said Media practitioners have enormous role to support national development and correct negative tendencies for the benefit of the citizens.

He said MacArthur Foundation is collaborating with relevant stakeholders in the national project for human development.

Also speaking in a keynote address, the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Kashere, Professor Umar Pate, said Nigeria as nation is surrounded by numerous challenges which are attributable to corruption,cultural and behavioural factors among both the government and governed.

He called on the Media to explore ample opportunities avail by their profession to support in tackling national predicaments such as corruption, poor governance, high cost of governance and weak judicial system.

Professor Pate called on leadership both at governmental and community levels to pay more attention towards channeling ideal practices under the ambiance of transparency in managing national resources for a better Nigeria.

Panelists at the two day round table were drawn from the Media, civil society Groups, Academia, Anti-curruption Agencies and Development Partners.