Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) on Thursday presented prizes to outstanding investigative journalists in Kano.
The organization which is reputed for its long working relationship with journalists to ensure transparency and accountability in the public sector expressed its delight in the efforts of the journalists in ensuring accountability is given priority in the course of their works.
While speaking, a staff of the organization Mallam Buhari Rano Abba said the journalists were awarded because of their knacks for Investigating corrupt practices both in public and private establishments, adding that the action will improve the quality of life,
especially in the vulnerable communities that don’t have the voice to fight the menace of the system.
He recalled that last year, May 24th the organization organized a three day training for 20 selected journalists, who later submitted proposal and undergo various investigations.
He added that after review was conducted by a team of judges, 10 journalists were successfully emerged as the recipient of the grant.
“Recalls that on 25th May, 2022, CITAD organized a three days training for 20 selected journalists. The 20 selected journalists submitted proposals and undergo various investigations, after which a review was conducted by a team of Judges where 10 Journalists successfully emerged as the recipient of the grant”.
The competition which was themed: Journalists Against Corruption, was organised by CITAD with support from MacArthur Foundation.
Buhari added that the sub-grant is an encouragement to improve the capacity of journalists to investigate and report corrupt practices at the grassroots level through a competitive process as a way of holding public officials to account.
He said after Selecting best six reports out of ten, CITAD uplaoded six reports on social media platforms for public voting, and after two weeks of public voting, the reports of the journalists emerged winners;
The winners of the prizes are, Ismail Auwal Garba of Sahelian Times, Anibe Idajili ,TheCable and
Rabiu Musa, HotPen.
Appreciating the organizer of the competition, one of the winners, Rabiu Musa of Hot Pen expressed his delight, as he also enjoined other organization to follow the footprint of CITAD in training journalists in order to unravel the ills of the society.
He also advised journalists to seek for grants in order to do investigative reports on some vital issues of the society, even though investigative journalism is very tedious and risky.
“Journalists should make sure they seek for grants to do investigative stories on some important issues in the society.
” Though we know is not easy because of its risky and tedious nature, but its important for them to know that the society needs them very much “.
