Media leaders, NUJ and NAWOJ hail initiative as a timely intervention to combat misinformation, build professional capacity and promote accountability in Nigeria’s media industry.
By Chioma Vivian James | Abuja
The Daily Trust Foundation (DTF) has launched a journalism academy aimed at strengthening ethical reporting, enhancing digital journalism skills and equipping media practitioners with the knowledge required to combat misinformation, promote accountability and rebuild public confidence in the media.
The academy, unveiled on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, is designed to address critical professional development gaps in Nigeria’s media industry through structured, accessible and practical training for journalists.
Speaking at the launch, Chairman of the Foundation, Malam Bilya Bala, said the initiative was informed by lessons from the organisation’s implementation of multi-year grants supported by the MacArthur Foundation, which exposed gaps in investigative reporting, specialised knowledge, newsroom collaboration and digital journalism.
He identified the spread of misinformation and declining public trust in journalism as major challenges requiring sustained investment in professional development.
“These realities made it clear that a more comprehensive, structured, and sustainable learning platform was needed,” Bala said.
He disclosed that the Foundation had implemented capacity-building programmes that benefited more than 2,000 participants from media organisations and civil society groups.
The programmes covered investigative journalism, media management, education, energy, banking, natural resources, agriculture, crime and security, oil and gas, and national budgeting.
Cross section of participants at the launch
According to him, the new academy will consolidate these experiences into a unified platform while expanding access to professional training for journalists across the country.
A major component of the initiative is the DTF Digital Academy, an online learning platform available at dtfacademy.com.ng, which allows participants to access courses at their convenience, complete assessment quizzes and obtain certificates upon successful completion.
The Foundation also plans to provide tailored training for organisations, organise specialised workshops and webinars, strengthen partnerships with academic institutions and development partners, and convene conferences and public forums on governance, media, technology and society.
Bala added that the academy has a well-equipped training facility with multimedia infrastructure to support both physical and virtual learning.
Continuous Learning Critical to Journalism
Publisher of Premium Times, Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, congratulated the Foundation on the initiative, describing it as an important intervention at a time when journalism is undergoing significant changes driven by digital technology.
He stressed that formal education alone could not adequately prepare journalists for the demands of modern newsrooms, emphasising the need for continuous training and practical experience.
“The classroom is not adequate, it is important, but it is inadequate in preparing the kind of human resource we need for this next challenge,” he said.
Olorunyomi described the academy as a significant development that could expand professional learning opportunities, particularly through its online training component.
He also pledged Premium Times’ continued partnership with the Foundation, expressing optimism that the initiative would contribute to improving professional standards across the industry.
In his keynote address, Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times, Musikiliu Mojeed, said journalists must continually update their knowledge and skills to report accurately, scrutinise public institutions and strengthen democratic accountability.
He noted that journalism shapes citizens’ understanding of public affairs and influences how they assess those entrusted with public power.
L-R, Representatives of NUJ FCT and NAWOJ FCT, Comrade Rosemary Ukoko Tega and Princess Joy Omagha Idam respectively at the launch.
According to him, the quality of journalism extends beyond the newsroom, affecting public discourse, democratic accountability and citizens’ ability to make informed decisions.
Mojeed cautioned that years of professional experience did not automatically translate into expertise, stressing that journalists must learn from their mistakes, question assumptions and develop new capabilities.
He urged journalists to go beyond simply transmitting information by establishing facts, explaining complex issues and helping the public understand the implications of government policies and public decisions.
On investigative journalism, he warned that the desire to expose wrongdoing must never undermine professional standards or lead to the publication of unverified allegations.
“The desire to expose wrongdoing must never excuse lowering our standards of proof,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of ethical judgment, particularly when reporting conflicts, handling vulnerable sources and covering sensitive public issues.
Mojeed urged media organisations to make learning an integral part of newsroom culture through mentorship, knowledge-sharing sessions, constructive feedback and access to subject-matter experts.
He further called on media executives to provide journalists with the time, resources and institutional support needed to produce quality reports.
According to him, the academy could help bridge existing skills gaps, particularly among journalists working in smaller newsrooms and communities.
He said its success should be measured not merely by the number of courses offered or participants enrolled, but by demonstrable improvements in the quality of journalism produced by its graduates.
“If we want better journalism, we must make learning a shared responsibility,” he said.
MacArthur Foundation Commends Initiative
The representiive of Dr Kole Shettima, Director (Africa),MacArthur Foundation, Jane Gbam congratulated the Daily Trust Foundation on the launch, describing the academy as a promising platform for sustaining professional journalism development beyond grant-funded programmes.
She noted that the MacArthur Foundation had supported Daily Trust Foundation under the recently concluded One Nigeria project, which included initiatives to strengthen accountability and improve access to reliable information.
Gbam commended the organisation’s contribution to promoting public trust in journalism, emphasising the longstanding relationship between credible information and good governance.
She expressed optimism that the academy would help sustain the gains recorded through previous capacity-building interventions.
NUJ, NAWOJ Pledge Support
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has commended the Daily Trust Foundation for establishing the academy, describing it as a timely intervention in an era characterised by fake news, misinformation and growing concerns about professional standards.
The NUJ FCT Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, who was represented at the event by Comrade Rosemary Ukoko Tega, praised the Foundation for developing what she described as a well-tailored and convenient training programme for journalists.
She urged members of the union to take advantage of the opportunity to improve their professional competence, particularly as the media landscape continues to evolve.
The NUJ representative also pledged the union’s partnership with the Foundation, expressing support for initiatives that promote ethical journalism and strengthen the capacity of media practitioners.
Similarly, the Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Comrade Bassey Ita-Ikpang, represented by Princess Joy Idam, pledged the association’s support for the academy.
Idam said NAWOJ identified with the Foundation’s vision and would publicise the programme to encourage more journalists, particularly women journalists, to participate.
“We will publicise what you are doing and encourage members to take advantage while the training is still free,” she said.
The association’s endorsement adds to the growing support for the academy as a platform for expanding professional development opportunities and promoting higher standards in journalism.
DTF Urges Media Owners to Enrol Reporters
The Programme Director of the Daily Trust Foundation, Dr Theophilus Abbah, urged media owners and platform managers to encourage their reporters to enrol in the programme and maximise the opportunities it offers.
He stressed that continuous learning would help journalists improve the accuracy, credibility and value of their reports, while strengthening public confidence in the media.
The launch of the DTF Journalism Academy marks a new step in efforts to institutionalise professional development within Nigeria’s media industry.
With its combination of online courses, specialised workshops, practical training and institutional partnerships, the academy is positioned to broaden access to journalism education and help practitioners respond more effectively to the demands of contemporary reporting.
Its long-term impact, however, will depend on sustained participation, relevant course content and the willingness of media organisations to make professional development a priority.
As misinformation, technological change and public scrutiny continue to reshape journalism, the academy offers an opportunity to strengthen the knowledge, ethical judgment and professional competence required to serve the public interest.
