pannigeriannews 
By Isaiah Adewole
A Nigerian journalist cum lecturer at the Department of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan, Dr. Ridwan Kolawole, has convened a training on solutions journalism in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
The training, held at the Postgraduate Lecture Room of the Department of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan, was organised to align Nigerian journalism practice with global best standards by encouraging reporters and newsrooms to go beyond problem-focused reporting and highlight feasible responses to societal challenges.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Kolawole explained that the initiative was driven by the growing need for journalists to adopt solutions journalism as a professional approach.
“I want to thank my Head of Department, Dr. Bisi Olawuyi, for allowing us to hold the training here. I welcome everyone to this event and appreciate our facilitators, Dr. Rasheed Adebiyi and Mr. Mutiu Iyanda, for honouring our invitation. Let me also clarify that this training is not sponsored; whatever we have done here is through our personal effort,” he said.
Dr. Kolawole added that the essence of the training was to deepen journalists’ understanding of solutions journalism, its core principles and practical steps towards effective application.
“This is the core of why we are organising this training: how do we practise solutions journalism, what are the steps involved, and what are the pillars upon which it stands?” he noted.
While the presentations by Drs. Rasheed Adebiyi and Ridwan Kolawole focused on the concepts and practice of solutions journalism, Mr. Mutiu Iyanda delivered a session on the economics of solutions journalism and its sustainability in the media industry.
Journalists from various media organisations, including Nigerian Tribune, The Guardian, Vanguard, Radio Nigeria, Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), Pan-Nigerian News, InformedDaily News and AFAS Press, participated in the training.
In his remarks, the Head of the Department of Communication and Language Arts, Dr. Bisi Olawuyi, commended Dr. Kolawole for initiating the programme, describing it as timely and impactful.
“I want to thank Dr. Ridwan Kolawole for this great initiative. When he shared this brilliant idea with me, I told him that as the department clocks 50 years, by the grace of God, we will be organising a very massive workshop on solutions journalism next year as our own intervention in society,” Dr. Olawuyi said.
He congratulated the organiser for successfully bringing the training to fruition and urged participants to translate the lessons learnt into their everyday journalistic practice.
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