By ebosele@hotmail.com
Thirty-two journalists from different media organisations have benefitted from a three-day strategic capacity-building workshop in Abuja, which ended on Wednesday, offering fresh insights into the evolving role of artificial intelligence and digital communication in today’s newsroom.
The training, organised under the #NLNGChangeYourStory initiative, underscores NLNG’s commitment to strengthening stakeholder capacity and advancing professionalism within Nigeria’s media space. Through hands-on sessions and expert-led discussions, participants explored how emerging media tools can be deployed for real-time reporting, expanded audience reach beyond borders, and meaningful engagement across multiple platforms.
Speaking at the workshop, the General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development at NLNG, Ms. Sophia Horsfall, reaffirmed the company’s focus on capacity development as a core pillar of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. She noted that the #NLNGChangeYourStory initiative continues to equip journalists with the skills and confidence required to produce professional media content in a fast-paced, technology-driven environment.
Horsfall described journalism as a calling that informs, educates and influences society, urging participants to apply the knowledge gained to amplify their impact. She expressed optimism that journalists would continue to enlighten the public and inspire valuable synergies through stories that reflect NLNG’s vision of being a globally competitive energy company committed to improving lives sustainably.
She also highlighted NLNG’s broader support for the media sector, citing initiatives such as the NLNG Prize for Energy Reporting at the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME), among others.
Earlier, in her opening remarks, the Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Mrs. Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, said NLNG remains deliberate in its investments aimed at raising professional standards in Nigeria’s media practice.
“This workshop moved beyond theory to address the real pressures of a digital newsroom, including speed, verification, audience trust and relevance. Our support for these competencies is targeted at strengthening a resilient media ecosystem that produces accurate and impactful journalism capable of shaping public understanding and contributing to national progress,” she said.
The workshop was facilitated by digital communication specialist Dan Mason, alongside the Journalism Clinic led by respected media veteran Taiwo Obe. Participants were guided through practical approaches to digital storytelling, data visualisation, online fact-checking, audience engagement and effective management of digital presence.
The #NLNGChangeYourStory initiative has so far empowered over 180 journalists with enhanced digital communication and social media skills across its various editions.
