Abuja – The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), an NGO, on Tuesday in Abuja commenced three-day training for 40 journalists on investigative reporting.

The journalists are drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Executive Director of the NGO, Mr Dayo Aiyetan, said that the training would expose the journalists to the intricacies involved in investigative journalism.

He said the aspect of journalism globally had moved beyond the traditional journalism being the norm in Nigeria.

Aiyetan attributed the development to lack of skills required for journalists to perform their duties effectively.

“It is easy to find out about figures, but the skills, tools and the technical know how is not there to embark on such mission.

“We can simply use our computers or any soft ware to find out whatever we want to investigate or unravel,” he said.

The executive director promised to set up a fact-checking centre in Nigeria for the benefit of the media practitioners and other similar professionals.

“The kidnapped Chibok girls, till now, nobody knows the actual number that were involved.

“But if we have the investigative tools to embark on investigation, by now the whole country would have known the actual number rather than conflicting figures,” he said.

Aiyetan said that lack of tools had seriously impacted on the work of journalists in the country, especially in investigative reporting.

He such journalism was what Nigerian journalists needed to improve and upgrade their skills.

He said that truthfulness, consistency, fairness should be their watch words, adding that the virtues remained the beauty of the journalism profession worldwide.

Aiyetan expressed confidence that at the end of the training, participants would have cause to smile.

Responding, Alhaji Muhammed Haruna, one of the resource persons, tasked the journalists to be dedicated to their jobs to improve their reportage.

He said that with the Freedom of Information Act in existence, it would go a long way to assist journalists, especially in area of investigative journalism.

The resource person also urged the participants to be persistent, dogged and determined while trying to get information about a particular event.

“We should try as much as possible to overcome the challenges faced by journalists in the course of our duty.

“There are challenges in every occupation but the question is that how prepared are you to overcome such challenges in the course of your duty,” he said.

– NAN