The Ogun State Government has commended IHS Nigeria Limited for organizing a two-day media training and retreat for over 100 journalists across the state, aimed at equipping them with modern knowledge and tools of journalism.

The event, held at AA Entertainment and Tourism Hotel, Kuto, Abeokuta, was organized by IHS Nigeria Limited in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Correspondents’ Chapel, Ogun State Council. Participants were drawn from various media platforms including print, broadcast, online, Local Government Information Chapel(LOGIC), Federal Ministry of Information and Orientation, Information Chapel and National Orientation Agency (NOA).

Declaring the retreat open, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, represented by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, described the training as timely and essential in helping journalists stay abreast of modern trends in media practice.

Governor Abiodun identified key challenges confronting media practitioners such as career development, mentorship for young reporters, digital skills, leadership growth, and harassment on the field.

“We are all aware that media practitioners in Nigeria face numerous challenges, including gaps in structured mentorship for young reporters, career planning and growth opportunities, digital literacy, and leadership development,” he said.

The Governor urged participants to leverage the opportunity to acquire new skills and exchange ideas that would enhance creativity and professionalism in journalism. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to partnering with the media to drive sustainable development across all sectors.

While highlighting his administration’s achievements in the last six and a half years, Abiodun commended IHS Nigeria and the facilitator, Comrade Rasaq Ayinla, for the initiative, describing the training as “apt and impactful,” especially in areas such as finance, economy, health, telecommunications, oil and gas, banking, law, and governance reporting.

Also speaking, Legal Director of IHS Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Yemisi Diya-Salawu, expressed optimism that the training would enhance the participants’ professional capacity and promote responsible journalism.

She described IHS Nigeria as part of the global IHS Towers Group, one of the world’s largest independent owners, operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure.

“In Nigeria, we operate over 16,000 towers and 15,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables across the country. We see ourselves as Nigeria’s backbone of digital possibilities. Connectivity drives socio-economic growth, but it must go hand in hand with sustainability and social responsibility,” Diya-Salawu stated.

She added that IHS’s sustainability strategy revolves around four key pillars: ethics and governance, environment and climate change, education and economic growth, and people and communities. According to her, sponsoring the media training aligns with the company’s belief in the critical role of the media in informing citizens and deepening democracy.

“Beyond building sustainable and secure infrastructure solutions, we are also committed to creating conditions for people and communities to thrive, today and for generations to come,” she added.

Speaking on the topic, "Understanding Workability of Conventional and New Media: The Pros and Cons,"  Founder of Media Career Services, Mr. Lekan Otunfodunrin, explained that media practitioners should embrace Artificial Intelligence(AI) for knowledge enhancement, urging them to maximize the new platform for publishing and broadcasting.

Another resource person, Former Editor, BusinessDay Newspaper, Dr. Vincent Nwanma on the topic; 

“Relevance of Financial and Economic News Reporting in Modern-Day Journalism: What Journalists and News Analysts Need to Know” said that it is expedient for the participants to know the situation of policy and economy so as to report accordingly to the public.

In his welcome address, Chairman of Correspondents’ Chapel, NUJ Ogun State, Comrade Razaq Ayinla said the retreat aimed to bridge knowledge gaps and strengthen reporters’ expertise in specialized areas such as economy, telecoms, mining, oil and gas, banking, and governance.

“Abeokuta leads in vibrant journalism, and we must sustain this momentum through training and retraining. Among us today are publishers, editors, correspondents, and information officers across all levels of government,” Ayinla noted.

The Ogun State Education Ambassador, Mr. Adewale Kayode, also shared his life-changing experience through IHS’s sponsorship, which enabled his participation in the Limitless Global Educator Programme held in Houston, Texas, in July 2024. He thanked the company and the state government for their consistent support in transforming education in Ogun State.

“The initiative exposed me to global best practices, collaborations with educators, engineers, and astronauts, inspiring transformative educational projects back home,” Kayode said.