CALPED harps on Development Reporting...

Participants in group work during a session

By YUSUF GOJE

In its bid to engage citizens on participatory governance, the Coalition of Associations for Leadership, Peace, Empowerment & Development (CALPED), earlier today in Kaduna, organized a one day training program on the basic techniques of development reporting for civil society and media partners.

CALPED's Convener, Yusuf Ishaku Goje, in his remarks said "the aim of the one day training program was to strengthen the capacity of civil society and media partners in Kaduna on effective development reporting to enhance their work". He further remarked " the participants, numbering about twenty, were also sensitized on the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and Civic-Tech".

On his part, one of the resource-persons, Mr. Eddy Ochigbo, a veteran in journalism of over three decades and presently the Kaduna Bureau Chief of National Accord newspaper, explained that "development reporting is gaining more relevance and momentum in today's world especially in underdeveloped climes; as a result of widespread deficit in meeting development targets and goals".

A participant, Mrs. Rahila Ishaku, Executive Director Dogara Community Development Foundation, expressed her excitement; by stating that "CALPED is doing a great job by organizing the capacity building training that seeks to enhance development work through supporting civil society and media partners with effective reporting skill". Another participant, Mr Laurence Obeweh, Founder, Initiative for Collective Voice, Accountability & Progress (ICoVAP), remarked that the Open Government Partnership presents an entry point for increased citizens engagement in demanding accountability.

The one-day training program with the theme: 'Basic Techniques of Development Reporting', was described as educative and an eye opener on development reporting. The training also attracted participants from Northern Nigeria Youth Organization, Breeze Fm, Federated Kurama Youth Association-Kaduna branch and Cubinks Blog.

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