Data visualisation: Yobe govt. gifts journalists 100 new laptops
Yobe Government has distributed 100 new laptop computers to 100 journalists to aid the practise of data visualisation and other new trends in journalism.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the working tools were distributed to the journalists at the end of a three-day workshop organised for journalists by the state government in Kano.
The workshop, which began on Monday, had the theme: “ The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Democratic Governance and Contemporary Issues in the Development of Yobe State”.
Speaking at the closing of the training on Wednesday, Gov Mai Mala Buni noted that the workshop was part of the state government‘s efforts toward manpower development for effective service delivery.
Buni, who was represented by Alhaji Baba Wali, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), charged journalists to uphold the integrity of their profession by eschewing misinformation and other unprofessional conducts.
He advised them to shun sensationalism and focus more on covering events and issues that would bring peace and unity in the state.
“Excessive coverage of negativities like insecurity, only promotes criminals and discourage investments,” the governor observed.
Buni pledged to continue to invest in journalists’ welfare to enhance their productivity, especially in public mobilisation and education.
In his remarks, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, said the state government had conducted capacity building training for over 1000 civil servants since 2024.
He said that the trainings were in procurement, leadership, water management, technology, journalism, among others.
Bego said that Kano was chosen for the workshop in order to have absolute attention of the journalists.
The commissioner noted that data visualisation, fact checking, artificial intelligence, crises communication, among others, were indispensable to modern journalism.
He advised the journalists to practise all they learned at the workshop so as to remain relevant in the ever-evolving media landscape.
The commissioner also charged the journalists to live above board and always put public interest above personal interest.
NAN reports that facilitators at the training included Prof. Danjuma Gambo, University of Maiduguri, Prof. Nura Ibrahim, Bayero University, Kano, Dr Adama Adamu, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Dr Kola Shetima from McArthur Foundation.
NAN
