It aims to strengthen the capacity of the state’s WASH Media Network, empowering them to serve as watchdogs, storytellers, and advocates.
By TheInvestigator
In a significant effort to address the ongoing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) crisis in Cross River State, a three-day media training programme for members of the WASH Media Network is taking place in Ogoja from May 22 to 24, 2025.
This training, organized under the WASH Systems for Health (WS4H) Programme, is supported by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by Self Help Africa (SHA). It aims to strengthen the capacity of the state’s WASH Media Network, empowering them to serve as watchdogs, storytellers, and advocates.
The theme of the training, “The Role of the Media in Strengthening WASH Systems in Cross River State,” reflects a growing recognition of the media’s influence in shaping policy, amplifying community voices, and exposing systemic failures in service delivery—especially in underserved and rural areas. Mr Ebiye Dorgu, the State Coordinator of Self Help Africa, highlighted this significance.
Mr Wale Elekolusi, the National Coordinator of the WASH Media Network, encouraged participants to be more critical in their reporting.
Throughout the training, participants will engage in workshops focusing on data journalism, investigative reporting, multimedia storytelling, and WASH policy analysis. The programme also includes a field tour to a WS4H implementation site, providing journalists with firsthand insight into the realities of WASH service delivery and its impact on everyday life.
Self Help Africa, the leading organization in this initiative, has over 25 years of development experience in Nigeria, with proven efforts across sectors such as climate resilience, agriculture, and waste management. The WS4H initiative builds on this legacy, aiming to transform WASH systems for long-term sustainability.
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