Bulmun Sunday Dakwal Prime Progress, in collaboration with Nigeria Health Watch, recently held a two-day Campus Lab Solution Journalism training program at the University of Jos in Plateau state, Nigeria. The program, aimed at 300 and 400-level students, equipped them not only with the fundamentals of Solutions Journalism (SOJO) but also with essential reporting techniques, ethical guidelines and navigating the diverse career paths within journalism.
Over 30 students participated in the training, which ran from April 23rd to 24th, 2024. The program kicked off with opening remarks by Innocent Eteng, Managing Director/Head of Business Development at Prime Progress.
Following the opening, Ogar Monday, Head of Innovation, Partnerships, and Training, provided an introduction to SOJO, guiding participants on crafting captivating stories, identifying solution-oriented narratives, and the specifics of writing such stories.
Day two delved deeper into practical applications. Mr. Eteng led a session on transformative reporting techniques and the ethical standards that journalists must uphold. Johnstone Kpilaakaa, a seasoned journalist and religion solution journalism fellow with Prime Progress, shared his expertise on the various opportunities in journalism, emphasizing the importance of networking and effective story pitching.
The training incorporated practical sessions beyond theory. Students participated in group activities, learning to write and present story pitches. The hands-on approach proved impactful, as evidenced by student testimonials.
Oroke Oghenewairhe, a 300-level student, expressed her appreciation for the program’s timing. “The training came at the right time,” she said. “Before, I was unsure about how to approach story writing. This program provided much-needed clarity.” Oghenewairhe also highlighted the value of learning about SOJO and praised the accommodating instructors.
ThankGod Obasi, a 400-level student, echoed Oghenewairhe’s sentiments. “The training provided a valuable platform to learn about SOJO, the four pillars of crafting a story, and writing a compelling pitch,” he said. “This program has significantly impacted my journey towards mastering news writing.”
Prime Progress’s initiative at the University of Jos marks the beginning of a nationwide effort. The organisation plans to extend these SOJO trainings to other Nigerian universities, empowering future generations of journalists to make a positive impact through solutions-oriented reporting.
