Premium Occasions Academy trains journalists on Nigeria’s enterprise, financial system, monetary reporting

Journalists from main newsrooms throughout Nigeria have accomplished a two-day intensive coaching on enterprise, financial, and monetary reporting, organised by Premium Occasions Coaching Academy with help from the Central Financial institution of Nigeria (CBN).

The coaching passed off in Abuja on 12 and 13 November and was led by trade professionals, aimed to equip reporters with the abilities to supply moral, data-driven, and impactful tales that precisely replicate Nigeria’s financial system and monetary panorama.

The coaching got here at a time when correct and accountable financial reporting is essential. Coverage choices straight have an effect on residing requirements, healthcare, infrastructure, and financial alternatives, and facilitators argued that journalists play a central function in shaping public understanding and confidence.

Information entry

Musikilu Mojeed, the editor-in-chief of Premium Occasions, urged reporters to make use of out there financial knowledge, noting that credible data is extensively accessible on-line. “If you wish to report with authority, you could use knowledge and credible assets,” he mentioned.

He highlighted key sources, together with the World Financial institution, IMF, African Growth Financial institution, and home platforms such because the Federal Inland Income Service and the Price range Workplace, which publish proposals, appropriation legal guidelines, implementation reviews, and historic budgets relationship again to 2009.

These data enable journalists to trace authorities priorities, spending gaps, and shifts in coverage over time.

Mr Mojeed additionally pointed to the Nigeria Funding Promotion Fee, the Central Financial institution’s analysis publications, and the Nigeria Alternate (NGX), the place listed firms disclose market-moving data, possession adjustments, and annual reviews revealing their monetary well being.

“Journalists who grasp these instruments will constantly produce stronger, extra impactful enterprise tales,” he added.

Ethics requirements

Idris Akinbajo, the managing editor of the newspaper, emphasised that journalism ethics should be international, not native.

“Moral guidelines will not be non-compulsory. They’re guiding rules: accuracy, equity, and public accountability,” he mentioned.

He warned in opposition to over-reliance on native or cultural biases, unverified reviews, and statements from spokespersons with out impartial checks.

Mr Akinbajo harassed that journalists should construct capability, keep away from conflicts of curiosity, and resist unethical practices reminiscent of brown-envelope journalism. Credibility and accuracy decide how the world perceives nations and establishments.

Financial coverage

CBN’s Director of Financial Coverage, Victor Oboh, centered on the technicalities of financial reporting, highlighting how poor protection of financial coverage can set off panic, distort public expectations, and even destabilise an financial system.

“Some headlines can ship shock waves throughout the financial system,” he mentioned.

He defined that financial coverage goals to take care of low and steady inflation, whereas fiscal authorities deal with spending and job creation.

Coordination between the 2 sides is crucial, however the Central Financial institution’s main mandate stays value stability.

Journalists should distinguish between core and meals inflation, perceive financial instruments like OMO, CRR, and MPR, and contemplate how extra liquidity from Methods and Means, FX inflows, and previous interventions should be managed to curb inflation.

He additionally highlighted that the CBN has returned to orthodox central banking, permitting the naira to seek out its market worth and specializing in exchange-rate stability somewhat than synthetic power.

Enhancements in reserves, international inflows, current-account surpluses, and financial institution recapitalisation, they mentioned, sign underlying resilience, even when rates of interest stay excessive till inflation moderates.

Context

Zeal Akaraiwe, a monetary market professional, highlighted the hazards of incomplete reporting and selective narratives. “Inform the reality, inform the entire reality, and perceive its weight earlier than you hit publish,” he mentioned.

He urged journalists to supply full context, dig for complete knowledge, and search professional explanations, significantly when reporting Central Financial institution reforms and financial coverage.

Rushed or partial reporting, he warned, can gas panic, distort public notion, and weaken confidence within the financial system.

Truth checking

David Ajikobi, the editor of Africa Verify harassed that fact-checking is now a world self-discipline important for navigating Nigeria’s complicated data surroundings.

“The individuals who create faux information truly assume like us journalists, whereas we’re on the lookout for tales, they’re producing them,” he mentioned.

He defined that verification requires confirming sources, reviewing proof, consulting consultants, and guaranteeing conclusions don’t endanger lives.

Mr Ajikobi warned that the rising misinformation ecosystem, together with manipulated movies, impersonated sources, and politically pushed disinformation, can mislead the general public and deform nationwide discourse.

Notion

The founding father of The Africa Comfortable Energy Group, Nkiru Balonwu, centered on framing and tone in reporting, highlighting their impression on public confidence and notion.

“In the event you’re telling the reality, make sure that it’s the entire reality, and be sure to know the way your reality impacts your personal dwelling,” she mentioned.

Ms Balonwu argued that repeated detrimental narratives in Nigerian media can undermine public confidence and financial stability, contrasting native protection with extra restrained reporting in nations like Britain and Ghana.

She urged journalists to steadiness criticism with proof of progress, recognising that constructive indicators usually obtain little consideration whereas gloomy narratives dominate headlines.

Election spending

Paul Alaje, senior economist at SPM Professionals, highlighted the financial dangers of election spending forward of Nigeria’s 2027 basic elections.

He famous that politicians’ historical past of vote-buying usually includes massive international foreign money expenditures that destabilise the financial system.

“The pre-election 12 months usually sees the best financial progress, however instantly after, the financial system begins to nose-dive. Politicians throughout all events contribute to this instability. To deal with this, all election spending must be performed in naira, and the EFCC should monitor compliance,” he mentioned.

Mr Alaje warned that greenback inflows throughout elections deplete reserves and create exchange-rate instability, urging journalists to scrutinise election-related financial exercise intently.

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Over the 2 days, 25 journalists, guided by 9 facilitators, explored how media protection influences financial outcomes, the function of ethics in sustaining public belief, and sensible instruments for accessing and verifying open-source financial knowledge.

By the tip of the programme, individuals had been charged to use moral rules, interpret key financial indicators, and produce tales that inform, educate, and responsibly affect public discourse.

The coaching bolstered a central message that correct, moral, and context-rich reporting is crucial not just for skilled credibility, but in addition for the broader stability and notion of Nigeria’s financial system.