An insurance and business focused media firm, Insurance Press Limited, IPL, is partnering Centre for Financial Journalism, CFJ, and the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Lagos State, to deliver first-of-a-kind seminar and training for Nigerian journalists.
The training is part of a deliberate effort to expand the scope of insurance awareness in Nigeria, among journalists.
Over 100 media practitioners are to benefit from the phase one of the training programme.
The All-Inclusive Mass Media Seminar scheduled for September 21, 2023 at Radisson Blu, Ikeja, Lagos, is premised on the insurance principle of, “the law of large numbers.”
Although an insurance press corps exists, the fresh initiative is seen as creating an army of insurance savvy journalists and content creators who are able to connect insurance perspective in every story telling and news.
The event is sponsored by Africa Re Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility entity of African Reinsurance Corporation under its risk awareness, education and insurance development strategic areas.
READ ALSO:LP rejects Edo LG polls result announced by EDSIEC
In a statement in Lagos, Dr. Ray Echebiri, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Centre for Financial Journalism, a collaborating firm, was upbeat that “a robust understanding of the scope of insurance and the important role of practitioners combined with “heightened concept of responsibility of the journalist to his community in and off the beat” would be a partnership that can contribute significantly in rescuing the economy and impact vulnerable groups.
He noted that training and retraining of journalists as key influencers in the society would lead to better understanding of businesses and their overall impact on people aside profits.
“The fact that all industry beats and sectionals are involved is a demonstration of the expected outcome, as the insurance industry and the economy would be better for it.”
Lead organisers of the event and lead editor of IPL, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuadu was optimistic that “increased knowledge and awareness among journalists of the interconnectedness of risk and insurance in everyday living and business” would be key in opening the insurance market.
READ ALSO:SERAP sues Tinubu over ban of 25 journalists from covering Villa
“The more scrutiny and disclosure that the insurance industry is subjected, the more Nigerians would entrust them with their assets for protection,” he noted.
According to him, “When journalists are able to integrate and weave the human element into their stories, our society would clearly recognise the role journalists play in bringing out ‘stories behind the story.
“The role of the journalist is to tell the truth always and in doing this, they must go further in their story threads and ensure no one is left behind,” he added.
Accomplished trainers from various professions have been selected to deliver the All-Inclusive Mass Media Seminar themed, Transformational Journalism in the Digital Age: Deepening Insurance Awareness through Inclusive Reporting.
The event would also be streamed live to other journalists and stakeholders.
