Anas Yushau Yusuf

Journalists and media practitioners have been equipped with practical skills in the use of Earth Observation technologies to improve climate change and environmental reporting during a capacity-building workshop organised by Bayero University Kano (BUK) in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and Future Earth.

The one-day workshop, titled “Achieving Transformative Flood Risk Management in Informal African Cities Using Demystified Earth Observation,” was held at Bayero University Kano. It brought together journalists from various media organisations to explore how satellite imagery, geospatial data and Earth Observation platforms can support evidence-based reporting on environmental and climate-related issues.

In his welcome address, the Project Lead, Prof. Aliyu Salisu Barau, said the training was designed to empower journalists with practical tools that would improve the quality, accuracy and credibility of environmental reporting.

“As the climate change crisis continues to unfold across our societies, the public depends on accurate, timely and evidence-based reporting,” he said.

According to him, participants would gain hands-on experience with Earth Observation platforms that can help journalists verify environmental claims, strengthen investigative reporting and communicate complex climate issues more effectively.

Prof. Barau noted that environmental challenges such as flooding, drought, land degradation and rapid urbanisation require reporting that is supported by scientific evidence rather than assumptions.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development) of Bayero University Kano, Prof. Amina Mustapha, described climate change as one of the most pressing development challenges confronting Northern Nigeria and the wider Sahel region.

She urged journalists to pay greater attention to environmental stories that directly affect communities, including desertification, the shrinking Lake Chad, food insecurity, climate-induced displacement and the implementation of initiatives such as the Great Green Wall.

Prof. Mustapha stressed that the media has a critical role in informing the public, influencing policy discussions and promoting accountability through accurate and well-researched environmental reporting.

Delivering her remarks virtually, Freya Muir, Research Coordinator at the European Space Agency and Future Earth, highlighted the importance of Earth Observation data in supporting climate monitoring, disaster preparedness and sustainable environmental management.

She explained that satellite-generated data provides reliable information that can help governments, researchers, humanitarian organisations and journalists better understand environmental changes and communicate risks before disasters occur.

The workshop featured technical sessions on the fundamentals of Earth Observation, accessing satellite data for evidence-based reporting, visual storytelling using geospatial information, investigative environmental journalism, and the application of Earth Observation tools for early warning communication and climate risk reporting.

Participants also took part in a hands-on practical session where they were introduced to digital Earth Observation platforms and guided through the process of accessing and interpreting satellite data for story development.

The training forms part of an ongoing collaborative project aimed at strengthening flood risk management in informal African cities by making Earth Observation technologies more accessible to researchers, policymakers and the media.

For many participants, the workshop demonstrated that modern journalism increasingly requires the ability to interpret scientific data alongside traditional reporting methods. By combining satellite imagery with field reporting, journalists can produce more accurate, compelling and impactful stories that contribute to public awareness and informed decision-making on climate and environmental issues.

The workshop ends with a renewed call for stronger collaboration between scientists, academic institutions and the media to ensure environmental reporting is rooted in credible evidence and serves the public interest.

Journalists, filmmakers, researchers and development communication experts have called for a fundamental shift in how development is documented in Africa, urging media practitioners and development actors to move beyond reporting project implementation and focus on the tangible impact interventions have on people’s lives.

The call was made during The ISDI Founding Conversation, convened by the Impact Storytelling for Development Initiative (ISDI) in Kano under the theme: “Documenting What Changed: The Future of Evidence-Based Impact Storytelling in Africa.”

The invitation-only gathering officially introduced ISDI, an independent development communication and impact storytelling institution dedicated to documenting sustainable development through evidence-based journalism, documentary filmmaking, photography, research and strategic communication.

In his opening address, Founder and Executive Director of ISDI, Ibrahim Ayyuba Isah, said the institution was established to bridge the gap between development interventions and the human stories that demonstrate their real impact.

“Every development intervention has two stories. The first is the story of implementation. The second is the story of impact. While implementation tells us what was done, impact storytelling asks a more important question: What changed? ISDI exists to document that second story through evidence, community voices and ethical storytelling.”

Participants agreed that while governments, development agencies and civil society organizations invest significant resources in development programmes, many of the stories that demonstrate how those interventions transform lives remain untold.

Dr. Musa Sufi, Chief Executive Officer of SIDES Media, described ISDI as a timely initiative capable of expanding conversations around development.

“It is inspiring to see an initiative like this coming from Kano. ISDI has given us another opportunity to make an impact. It provides more people with the opportunity to join the conversation and contribute to meaningful change.”

Speaking on the role of solutions journalism, Musbahu El-Hamza, Solutions Journalist and Host of Fitila Podcast, said development communication must go beyond celebrating successes.

“Development stories do not only focus on what works; they should also examine what does not work and why. If someone tries to implement a solution and the intervention fails, who tells that story and explains why it did not work? That is equally important.”

The Head of News, Cool FM/Wazobia FM and Arewa Radio, Abdurrahman Isah, challenged journalists to move beyond urban centres in search of stories that truly matter.

“Building a school alone is not development. We can only call it development when it touches lives and improves the quality of life of the people living in those communities. That is the story journalism should be telling.”

He also stressed the importance of persistence in reporting, noting that meaningful change often comes through sustained follow-up journalism rather than one-off coverage.

For Nafisa Murtala Ahmed, Development Journalist and Head of Programmes at Express Radio, development storytelling begins with communities telling their own stories.

“We are not telling our own development stories or celebrating our community achievements. Development starts with you. When you develop yourself, you can then contribute to the development of your community.”

She added that journalists must move beyond reporting events to telling stories that connect with people’s lived experiences.

The Founder of KDC Foundation, Khalifa Dankadai, described impact storytelling as an important tool for strengthening accountability and sustainability in development.

“Impact storytelling ensures that we do not merely report implementation but critically examine what changed, what the situation was before the intervention and how it has improved since then. It helps hold donors, implementers and communities accountable while protecting the gains of development.”

Other contributors, including Dr. Najib Usman, Hannatu Suleiman, Hauwa Mustapha, Hayatuddeen Muhammad, Furera Isiaka and Umar Gombe, emphasized the importance of community engagement, inclusion, collaboration, research, follow-up reporting and evidence-based documentation in strengthening sustainable development across Africa.

The conversation concluded with a shared commitment to promote collaboration among journalists, researchers, filmmakers, development practitioners and communication professionals in documenting measurable change and amplifying community voices.

Looking ahead, ISDI announced plans to expand its work beyond storytelling through strategic partnerships, research, public dialogue and the establishment of the ISDI Academy, which will build the capacity of young people, women, content creators, photographers, filmmakers and journalists in evidence-based impact storytelling and documentary production.

About ISDI

The Impact Storytelling for Development Initiative (ISDI) is an independent development communication and impact storytelling institution dedicated to documenting sustainable development through evidence-based journalism, documentary filmmaking, photography, research, strategic communication and capacity building.

Guided by the question “What changed?”, ISDI works to amplify community voices, preserve development knowledge and strengthen accountability by documenting the measurable impact of development interventions across Africa.

Website: www.isdiafrica.org

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Professor Isa Ali Pantami, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Gombe State, visited the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Federal Low-Cost, Gombe, on Sunday to sympathize with congregants following a recent fire incident that destroyed parts of the church facility.

Pantami, who also serves as a representative of Senate Leader Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo during the visit, described the gesture as a personal decision given his proximity to the church as a neighbor. He offered prayers for those affected and conveyed Dankwambo’s heartfelt sympathies while expressing solidarity with the church and the broader Christian community.

However, the visit—made by a prominent Islamic cleric—has generated significant debate across social media platforms, with critics questioning the appropriateness of the gesture while others have defended it as a demonstration of inclusive leadership.

Public Reactions

Social media users offered contrasting perspectives on the visit:

Amoka commented: “Sheikh Pantami Visits Church earlier today in his hometown in Gombe . What politics can not do, doesn’t exist.”

Ibrahim expressed surprise at the political dynamics, stating: “Omo! Fear Politics oo.”

Beatrice offered a lighter take, remarking: “This country na Cruise I swear.”

Others saw the visit through a more unifying lens. Paul noted: “Leadership is for all,” while Isaac Ebiloma emphasized common humanity: “We were humans before religious differences. Politics or not, it’s ok to visit others and sympathize with them.”

The visit comes amid Pantami’s gubernatorial campaign in Gombe State, where religious and ethnic considerations often feature prominently in political discourse. The former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy has faced scrutiny throughout his political career regarding his religious identity and its intersection with public service.

The ECWA church community has yet to issue an official statement regarding the visit or the extent of damage caused by the fire incident.