The Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative, also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN), with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has trained over 50 journalists in Adamawa State on effective reporting of police reform, accountability, and human-centred policing.

The one-day capacity-building workshop, held in Yola, was organised under the project titled ‘Enhancing Public Trust and Gender-Responsive Policing in Nigeria Through the Effective Implementation of the Police Act.’

The training aimed to equip media practitioners with the knowledge, skills, and tools required for impactful, ethical, and gender-sensitive coverage of police accountability, reform initiatives, and the humanisation of policing in Nigeria.

Aro Leonardo, a facilitator and a media expert said that the training would enhance journalists’ understanding of police reform issues and further promote professionalism in the discharge of their duties. He urged participants to fully engage in the sessions, upgrade their knowledge, and support initiatives aimed at strengthening public trust in policing.

Leonardo also explained that the training focused on the Police Act signed into law in 2020, which seeks to build an effective and efficient Nigerian Police Force anchored on accountability, transparency, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

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He stressed the importance of solutions journalism and evidence-based reporting, encouraging journalists to rely on verified facts and data rather than rumours.

He highlighted the role of development journalism in reporting social, economic, and political progress, noting that responsible reporting can influence positive reforms within public institutions.

Another facilitator, Folusho Ogar, who spoke on the need to humanise the police and policing, urged journalists to understand and empathise with police officers as individuals with families who work under challenging conditions to protect society. According to her, such understanding would foster balanced, fair, and responsible reporting.

Earlier, in her welcome address, Zainab Waziri, PWAN programme officer, commended the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Adamawa State Council, for partnering PWAN to make the training a success.

Responding, Abdullahi Ibrahim the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Adamawa State Council, praised Partners West Africa Nigeria for organising the workshop.

Some participants expressed appreciation to the organisers for the capacity-building initiative, stating that the knowledge gained would positively transform and improve their professional practice.

The highlight of the workshop was group presentations, as participants were divided into teams and assigned topics related to police reform, accountability, and public trust, which they presented and discussed collectively.