European Union funds media training initiatives in Nigeria

The European Union is funding several media capacity-building initiatives in Nigeria to address social instability and human rights violations.

In Oyo State, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and International IDEA have launched a specialist media corps. This program involves 25 journalists working to combat systemic sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). The initiative aims to bridge the gap between rural survivors and legal enforcement, ensuring that crimes are prosecuted through formal courts rather than being settled via informal local mechanisms.

In Sokoto State, International Alert and the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) conducted training for approximately 150 media practitioners. The program focuses on conflict-sensitive reporting to prevent the escalation of tensions caused by unverified information and inflammatory narratives. The training aims to equip reporters, editors, and digital content creators with tools to promote social cohesion and accuracy in conflict-prone areas.