The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), in partnership with the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), has concluded a three-day foundational training on effective reporting of the environment and climate change.

The training, held from August 18 to 20, 2026, at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, featured practical presentations designed to strengthen students’ understanding of environmental and climate change issues and improve their capacity to report them effectively.

While delivering his welcome address, the Provost of NIJ, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, said the training was designed to bridge the gap between theory and practical experience in environmental reporting.

Adefaye highlighted Nigeria’s environmental challenges, including the drying up of Lake Chad, which has displaced communities and contributed to conflicts in other parts of the country.

He also criticised the excessive focus of tabloids on politics at the expense of environmental issues, urging the students to help change the narrative through effective environmental reporting.

He described the trainees as fortunate to learn from experienced environmental experts, noting that such opportunities were not readily available to earlier generations of journalists.

Speakers at the training examined major environmental challenges, including climate change, pollution, desertification, deforestation, waste management and environmental degradation.

Philip Jakor, Executive Director of RDI, who spoke on “The Environment: Our Life,” explained that the environment provides humans with shelter, food and water, sustains life and promotes good health.

He, however, stressed that human activities have contributed significantly to environmental degradation through industrialisation, dependence on fossil fuels, vehicle emissions, sludge discharge into rivers, deforestation, single-use plastics and indiscriminate waste disposal.

Jakor highlighted environmental catastrophes such as melting glaciers, high temperatures, forest fires, desertification, flooding, typhoons, tsunamis and earthquakes.

He identified tree planting, reducing plastic use, conserving energy, environmental education and enforcing environmental regulations as important measures for protecting the environment.

“The most dangerous waste is medical waste,” he said.

Development expert Samuel Orovwuje, speaking on “Climate Change and the Environment,” described climate change as changes in temperature, rainfall patterns, sea levels and other environmental conditions.

He explained that climate change is largely driven by increasing greenhouse gas emissions from human activities and stressed that it is not only an environmental issue but also an economic, political, health and social challenge.

Orovwuje identified volcanic eruptions, solar radiation and ocean circulation as natural causes of climate change, while human causes include the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, industrial pollution, improper waste disposal and agricultural activities.

He encouraged industries and individuals to plant trees, use public transportation, recycle waste, conserve water and support environmental policies.

Speaking on “Extractive Dependence,” Barrister Chima Williams said Nigeria is heavily dependent on extractive resources, adding that forests are also treated as extractive resources through activities such as timber production.

He warned that the country’s overdependence on natural resource extraction makes the environment “bleed,” stressing that Nigeria cannot achieve a balanced environment while continuing to depend heavily on extractive resources.

Faith Nwadishi, who spoke on “Desertification,” said people often confuse drought with desertification.

She identified drought, land degradation, desertification and coastal erosion as environmental concepts journalists frequently mix up.

According to her, desertification is driven by climate change, overdraining, pollution pressure and weak land-use governance.

She identified Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, Zamfara and Adamawa as states significantly affected by desertification.

Anthony Oligbo, a lecturer at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) and founder of Ecozone, an environmental sustainability club at the institution, spoke on the topic “Deforestation.

Oligbo described the environment as the surroundings in which humans, animals and other organisms live and interact, comprising both biotic and abiotic components.

He traced the history of modern environmental awareness to Rachel Carson’s 1962 book, Silent Spring, which raised awareness about pollution and the harmful effects of pesticides.

He explained that forests absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, regulate the climate, store carbon and help prevent soil erosion.

Oligbo identified tree planting, sustainable farming, the use of solar energy, gas and electricity instead of firewood and charcoal, and community education as measures for tackling deforestation.

He also encouraged journalists to report environmental issues through different platforms and formats, including short films, documentaries, books, music and indigenous languages.

The second day of the training featured classroom sessions and a field trip to Okun Alfa, a climate-impacted waterfront community in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos. The field visit provided the students with an opportunity to observe firsthand some of the environmental challenges affecting the community.

The third day of the training commenced with a session by Anthony Akpan, President of the Pan African Vision for the Environment (PAVE), who spoke on “Waste Management.”

Akpan stressed that waste separation is the first and most important step in effective waste management. He recommended a three-bin system for organic waste, recyclable materials and non-recyclable or hazardous items.

He explained that organic waste could include food waste, peels and garden trimmings, while recyclable materials include plastics, glass, metal and paper.

Akpan advised participants to clearly label waste bins and place them close to areas where waste is generated, such as kitchens.

He also called for greater recognition of waste specialists and urged journalists to improve their knowledge of waste management and environmental issues.

Mfreke Asigbe, Executive Director of Cypress Global Health, discussed the environmental challenges facing women, explaining how climate change, extreme weather and environmental degradation can affect the health, safety and dignity of women and girls.

She noted that women often bear the responsibility of caring for children, sick persons and older people, making their burden greater during disasters and environmental emergencies.

Asigbe also highlighted the difficulties women may face during pregnancy, childbirth and menstruation, particularly when heatwaves, flooding, displacement and disruptions to healthcare services occur.

Rachael Greenwood, a human rights and international development professional, spoke on “International Treaties and Agreements on Climate Change,” tracing the development of global efforts to address environmental challenges.

She explained how the recognition of the environment as a global concern evolved through major international agreements, beginning with the 1972 Stockholm Conference, followed by the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.

Greenwood also discussed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which aims to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions.

She highlighted the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), which recognises that while all countries have a role in addressing climate change, their responsibilities differ based on their circumstances and contributions.

Olaosebikan Olajuwon, Deputy Clerk and Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State House of Assembly, spoke on “Environmental Laws in Lagos.”

Olajuwon stressed the importance of understanding environmental laws and the mandates of institutions responsible for addressing pollution, water, air quality, drainage and other environmental concerns.

He highlighted key environmental institutions in Lagos State, including the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK), Lagos State Wastewater Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO), Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO), Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), and the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources.

He urged journalists covering environmental issues to understand relevant laws and institutional mandates, visit affected communities and avoid speculation.

Paul Ashibel, a communication consultant, spoke on the importance of digital platforms in climate change reporting.

Ashibel identified Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok as important channels for distributing environmental reports, videos and other multimedia content to wider audiences.

He also stressed the need for journalists to use verification tools to ensure accuracy and combat misinformation, identifying reverse image search, Google Maps, Google Earth and official government websites as useful tools.

The three-day training brought together students, mainly from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), alongside participants from Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) and Lagos State University (LASU). The training provided participants with practical knowledge of major environmental and climate issues while emphasising the critical role of journalists in promoting accurate, evidence-based and impactful reporting

Participants were encouraged to understand environmental issues, verify information, engage affected communities and use different reporting formats and digital platforms to increase public awareness of environmental and climate challenges.

The Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, has called for a fundamental overhaul of journalism education, urging universities and journalism training institutions to equip aspiring media professionals with artificial intelligence (AI), digital and entrepreneurial skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving media landscape.

Adefaye made the call on Monday while delivering a paper titled “Training the Next Generation of Journalists for Digital Innovation and Global Impact” at the Journalism Outlook Conference 2026, organised by Caleb University at the institution’s Multipurpose Hall in Imota, Ikorodu, Lagos.

The conference was themed “Reinventing Local Newspapers in the Digital Age: Innovation, Sustainability, and Global Community Impact.”

Addressing participants, the NIJ Provost stated that journalism training must move beyond traditional newsroom practices to prepare graduates for a digital-first media ecosystem increasingly driven by technology, multimedia storytelling, and artificial intelligence.

He warned that local newspapers can no longer rely on old business models if they hope to remain relevant.

“A drive round any Nigerian city today tells its own story. The printed newspaper has become something of a memento, carried by a few remaining old vendors who, like the papers they hawk, are a dying tribe,” he said.

Despite the decline in newspaper circulation, Adefaye noted that public appetite for media content has continued to grow, with audiences now consuming news across multiple digital platforms.

“The near-disappearance of the newspaper from the daily menu does not necessarily mean a decline in the consumption of media content. If anything, people probably consume more content today than they ever did,” he asserted.

Reflecting on his years as an executive at Vanguard newspaper, Adefaye recalled receiving more than a dozen newspapers daily but reading only a fraction of them, contrasting that experience with today’s digital environment where vast amounts of text, audio, and video content are accessed through mobile devices.

According to him, while newspaper brands still command respect, the industry now faces stiff competition from digital content creators, influencers, and on-air personalities who have leveraged technology to build large audiences without the overhead costs associated with traditional media organisations.

“There are now legions of publishers whose only factory is a laptop and a data subscription,” he said, adding that many content creators now perform functions traditionally reserved for trained journalists.

He stressed that technological advancement has fundamentally transformed newsroom operations, eliminating many of the rigid specialisations that once defined journalism practice.

“The today’s media professional is expected to play smart and play many roles at once,” he said.

Adefaye described artificial intelligence as the next major frontier in journalism education, arguing that AI should not be treated as an optional addition to existing curricula but integrated into newsroom training and practice. “Artificial intelligence is, without question, the next game in journalism training.”

He explained that journalism schools must now produce entrepreneurial, multi-skilled content creators capable of reporting, shooting, editing, publishing, distributing, and monetising content across multiple platforms.

He argued that the era of abundant permanent newsroom jobs is gradually giving way to contract work, freelance opportunities, and a content marketplace where success depends on quality, speed, and innovation.

To bridge the gap between training and industry realities, the NIJ Provost advocated substantial investment in digital newsrooms, television and radio studios, multimedia laboratories and communication research facilities.

He also called for expanded curricula that place digital journalism, multimedia storytelling, strategic communication, corporate communication, social media management and media entrepreneurship at the heart of journalism education.

“Digital journalism is far bigger than simply migrating newspaper stories onto a website. It integrates multimedia storytelling, data journalism, audience engagement, artificial intelligence and analytics directly into the news production process,” he explained.

On the sustainability of the newspaper industry, Adefaye observed that the traditional business model built on circulation revenue and advertising had largely collapsed, making entrepreneurship an essential component of journalism training.

He noted that future journalists must understand not only how to produce quality content but also how to sustain media businesses through emerging revenue models, including subscriptions, memberships, content licensing, events and direct audience monetisation.

Speaking on the conference theme, Adefaye pointed out that digital technology has created opportunities for local journalism to achieve global relevance, enabling stories from local communities to reach international audiences within hours of publication.

He urged journalism educators to prepare students for cross-border reporting, international collaborations and global ethical standards while maintaining strong local news values.

The NIJ Provost also welcomed recent reforms to journalism education in Nigeria, particularly the restructuring of communication programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), saying the new specialised pathways better reflect the realities of today’s media industry.

Adefaye further encouraged journalism educators to embrace change rather than resist it, maintaining that AI should be seen as a tool to enhance journalism rather than a threat to the profession.

“We must teach the smart use of artificial intelligence, not as a threat to be resisted but as a tool to be mastered,” he advised.

He added: “The local newspaper, and the profession that built it, will only reinvent itself successfully if the people we train today are equipped for the world as it now is — not the world, however fondly remembered, that most of us came up in.”

The Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos, has recorded a landmark achievement by emerging winner of the 2026 Future Pitcher Student Academy (FPSA), securing its first-ever victory in the prestigious Pan-African marketing communications competition.

The institution was represented by two Higher National Diploma (HND) II students of the Department of Strategic Communication, Miss Favour Mbagwu and Miss Kehinde Olatunji, who emerged as joint winners of the competition.

The feat is particularly significant as it marks the first time NIJ has won the contest since its inception and also the first occasion two students from the same institution have shared the top prize.

The 2026 edition of the FPSA attracted 26 students from 12 higher institutions across Africa, making it one of the most competitive editions of the programme.

Participating institutions included the University of Lagos, Covenant University, Redeemer’s University, the University of Ibadan, Olabisi Onabanjo University, McPherson University, Pan-Atlantic University, Ajayi Crowther University and Lancaster University, Ghana.

Notably, NIJ was the only institution accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) among the participants, while the remaining schools are universities accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

FPSA, formerly known as the Future Creative Leaders Academy (FCLA), is a Pan-African student competition in marketing communications organised as part of the Pitcher Festival, an initiative of CHINI Africa.

The finalists in the 2026 competition were Tomiwa Oyegunle of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Daniel Nnam of the University of Lagos, Bernice Ijekhuemen of Lancaster University, Ghana, and NIJ’s Favour Mbagwu and Kehinde Olatunji.

The final stage of the competition was conducted virtually on June 8 before a panel of international judges, who assessed participants based on the quality and effectiveness of their presentations.

At the end of the exercise, Mbagwu and Olatunji received the gold medal as joint winners. Tomiwa Oyegunle won the silver medal, while Bernice Ijekhuemen claimed the bronze medal.

In other categories, Mr. Jack Amaso of NIJ was named FPSA Lecturer of the Year. The School of the Year award went to the Department of Language and Communication Arts at the University of Ibadan, while Olabisi Onabanjo University and Redeemer’s University finished second and third respectively.

The competition was judged by Afua K. Asiedu of Publicis Groupe, Ghana, Lydia Gathigia, Strategic Director at Ogilvy, Ghana, and Nana Adwoa Adoma. Now in its 19th year, FPSA has grown into one of Africa’s foremost student competitions in advertising, marketing communications and creative strategy, dedicated to identifying, nurturing and showcasing the next generation of communication professionals across the continent.

By Emmanuel Ashemiriogwa

The Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) demonstrated its commitment to environmental sustainability on Friday, 5 June, by hosting a commemorative event for World Environment Day. Spearheaded by the ‘One Million Trees’ initiative, the programme sought to foster a culture of environmental stewardship among students and staff.

The event was themed “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future,” aligning with this year’s global focus, “Nature is not optional.”

Representatives from the One Million Trees initiative delivered an engaging awareness talk, underscoring the critical necessity of reforestation in an urban landscape like Lagos.

Emphasising the collective responsibility to preserve the planet, the officials stated, “Earth is our home, so we need to take care of it. Imagine every landlord in Lagos is mandated to have a tree in their house. You know how huge of a difference that would make.”

Adding to that, Deputy Provost of NIJ, Dr Adeboye Ola, reinforced the importance of the exercise by sharing his personal experiences with cultivating economic trees.

He assured the community that the newly planted trees would be meticulously nurtured, allowing future students to benefit from their fruit and shade.

“The space in the institution may not be enormous, but the area of land available will be utilised for maximum greenery,” Dr Ola noted.

During his contribution, the founding lecturer of the school’s environmental club, Ecozone, Mr Anthony Oligbo, welcomed the collaboration.

According to him, such activities are central to the club’s mandate and serve as a springboard for broader campus initiatives.

“This is an opportunity for the school to also prioritise other eco-friendly measures such as plastic recycling cages, etc.,” he added.

Following the seminar, the atmosphere shifted to the school field, where students, faculty, and initiative officials engaged in a practical demonstration of environmental action. More than 20 trees were planted, each thoughtfully tagged with special names and dedicated with prayers to ensure their growth.

This local effort contributes to a broader national strategy; the Lagos State Government, acting under the federal government’s agenda, continues to champion large-scale afforestation across the state.

By integrating these practices into the academic environment, NIJ is playing its part in the wider effort to secure a greener, more sustainable future for the state.