By Hameed Mubarak
The Management of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, has approved a training session that will be facilitated by the International Centre for Investigation Reporting (ICIR). The comprehensive 2-day fact-checking training session is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 15th, and Thursday, 16th November 2023.
The approval was confirmed through an official letter released from the Student Affairs Division by its Secretary, dated 30th October 2023 to a request made by the organization to organize a 2-day training on Fact checking.
The approval reads thus; “With reference to your letter dated 27 September 2023, on the above subject matter, I write to convey the Dean of Students' approval for you to organize the activity. The date approved is Wednesday, 15, and Thursday, 16 November, 2023. We wish you fruitful interaction and competition.”
In an interview with Observers Mag Correspondent, the President of the National Association of Campus Journalists (NACJ), Abdulwasiu Olookoba, expressed his excitement over the achievements he has been making through series of training holding up for campus journalists and Mass communication students.
In his words, “I am delighted because it will be a remarkable precedent for me as a President of NACJ,”
It could be recalled that a 4-day training program was held by The Center Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) which exposed 51 selected campus journalists and Mass communication students to Evidence-Based Journalism: Source mapping, fact-checking, Data visualization, and investigative journalism.
“CJID trained 51 students on Evidence-based Journalism but they were not able to discuss fact-checking in-depth because of time factor so ICIR will explain in detail about the fact-checking” he recounted.
However, he disclosed the possible number of campus journalists to be shortlisted for the training due to the facilitator's request.
“At least 20 Campus journalist experts will be shortlisted for the training and will be trained for the 2-day Training”, He added.