TheMail Journalist, Ekemini Simon Selected for Maiden UDEME’s Accountability Fellowship
Photo: Ekemini Simon
Ekemini Simon, a journalist with TheMail Newspaper has been selected alongside 20 other journalists from across Nigeria and Ghana for the maiden Social Accountability Fellowship organized by UDEME, an initiative of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).
The fellowship, which is six-month in duration, commenced with a two-day virtual workshop from 19 to 20 March for all selected applicants, who are full-time employees of reputable media organisations across the two countries.
According to the UDEME Project Manager, Ijeoma Okereke-Adagba, the 2024 accountability fellowship aims to build the capacity of journalists in Nigeria and Ghana to identify red flags in budget line items and unique patterns in contract awards that violate local procurement laws.
She noted that this year’s focus will be on agriculture, health, education, and public infrastructure, emphasising gender inclusion.
The fellows include Ekemini Simon of TheMail Newspaper, two reporters with TVC News- Godwin Agwam and Chenemi Bamaiyi; two from the Guardian Newspaper, Gbenga Salau and Charles Akpeji; two from PREMIUM TIMES, Bakare Majeed and Mariam Ileyemi; Marie-Therese Nanlong from Vanguard; Azubuike Chimaobi, PUNCH; and Francis Ntow from Ghana News Agency.
Others are Kafilat Taiwo, Dataphyte; Manasseh Mbachii, Middlebelt Reporters; Angela Nkwo-Akpolu, Leadership Newspaper; Abdulwasiu Olokooba, Sahara Reporters; Abubakar Kankara, Daily Episode and Muhasa TV/Radio; Azeez Jaji, TheInformant247; Adediran Adeleke, New Telegraph; Okediran Adeyemi, BONews Service; Shafa’atu Suleiman, Daily Times; and Yahuza Bawage, Prime Progress.
During his presentation at the workshop, PREMIUM TIMES’ Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of CJID, Dapo Olorunyomi, called on the fellows to pursue quality journalism anchored on truthfulness, accuracy, accountability and dedication to public purpose.
Olorunyomi noted the purpose of accountability journalism in a democracy, citing sections 22 and 162(5) of Nigeria and Ghana’s constitutions respectively.
From the Plans and Projects Department of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Kenneth Kwujeli, also took the fellows on the budget formulation and preparation process.
Mr Kwujeli said that the budget formulation process engenders discipline and enhances transparency, adding that efforts are required to address some budget concerns that could engender impunity and corruption.
He also gave an overview of the Nigeria Agenda (NA) 2050, which he said is aimed at positioning Nigeria as an African regional power and global economic force. He said the plan envisages a GDP of US$11.7 trillion with an average annual GDP growth rate of 7 per cent and a per capita income of $33,328.02.
Mr Kwujeli highlighted the roles of CSOs and media to push for accountability and to collaborate to monitor the government’s implementation of the NA 2050.
The CJID’s Director of Programmes, Akintunde Babatunde, Assistant Managing Editor at PREMIUM TIMES, Bisi Abidoye, and Dubawa’s Editor, Kemi Busari, took fellows through how to effectively utilize data in their investigative stories and also how to tell stories that bear impact.
CJID is a West African media innovation and development think tank founded in 2014 as a non-governmental organisation in Nigeria.
The centre has been a leader in investigative journalism, innovation, open data, verification, the promotion of journalist welfare and safety, elections and the freedom of information and expression.
In 2020, CJID expanded its footprints beyond Nigeria and moved into specific niches in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia.