US Consulate, MCDN Urge Nigerian Journalists To Embrace People-Centred Development Reporting

Nigerian journalists have been urged to move beyond nationalism and activism and embrace people-centred, solutions-driven development journalism that delivers measurable impact at the community level.

The call was made at a Journalism Clinic organised by the Media Career Development Network (MCDN) in partnership with the U.S. Consulate General, Lagos, where media practitioners gathered for intensive training on development reporting.

Speaking as one of the facilitators, Mojideen Alabi, Editor-in-Chief of DevReporting, said development journalism is both “locally global” and rooted in everyday realities. He explained that many global development issues originate from community-level challenges and urged journalists to adopt evidence-based, issue-driven and contextually grounded storytelling.

Alabi stressed that development journalism thrives on collaboration rather than competition, noting that journalists must work together to track outcomes, measure impact and empower communities through informed reporting. He encouraged participants to see journalism as a tool for education, accountability and sustainable change.

The clinic forms part of a six-part programme that began in 2025 and has since become a key platform for training early- and mid-career journalists on best practices, tools and ethics in development reporting. The bi-monthly sessions also provide opportunities for networking and professional growth.

Delivering a practical session, Mariam Ileyemi, Health and Development Reporter with Premium Times, focused on the role of multimedia in strengthening development stories. She urged journalists to invest in quality reporting tools, ensure thorough documentation and use compelling photo and video evidence, including environmental shots, to enhance credibility and audience engagement.

In her welcome remarks, Julie McKay, Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Consulate General, Lagos, reaffirmed the Consulate’s commitment to supporting journalism as a cornerstone of democratic governance.

She highlighted available programmes, resources and American Spaces that journalists can access for capacity building. Temitayo Famutimi of the Consular team also outlined opportunities available to Nigerian media professionals, while the session was documented by photographer Olalekan Adediji.

Participants described the training as impactful. Ibrahim Adam of The Punch said the session reinforced the idea that development journalism begins at the community level and focuses on stories that shape lives in areas such as health, education and climate change.

Mohammed Aminu Yahaya of MyFundAction called the clinic invaluable, especially for first-time participants, while Joseph Jegede of Arise News shared insights on strategic story sourcing and investigative techniques.

The session concluded with Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Director of MCDN, urging journalists to apply the lessons learned in their daily work and sustain conversations around development journalism beyond the classroom.

MCDN is a not-for-profit organisation committed to strengthening Nigeria’s media through training, mentoring, advocacy for press freedom and professional development initiatives.