“Leave the small chops and big wins await you,” ICIR Executive Director Advises Young Journalists

By Yusuf Adua

The Executive Director, International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Mr. Dayo Aiyetan, has cautioned young journalists against unethical journalistic practices that can mar their progress in the profession.

The veteran journalist gave this admonishment during the Investigative and Data Journalism Training on Open Contract Reporting Project (South West and South-South zones,) a capacity building training for young journalists, which took place between Tuesday 10th and Thursday 12th May 2022 at the Diamond Hall of Amber Residence Ikeja Lagos state.

Mr Aiyetan, who took the media practitioners on core areas such as the Basics of Investigative Journalism, Forensic interviewing alongside Safety and Security for Journalists, among others, breathed hope and promise into the minds of journalists by assuring them that there are legitimate ways of “cashing out” being journalists as opposed to the brown envelope usual order.

He furthered that it would be difficult for any journalist who had decided to take the path of the grand norm to excel or be in pole position to receive a more significant reward when the time comes.

“During our own time as young journalists, the roads were narrow that we wouldn’t have a choice but to live on these peanuts. Even with that, some of us were still able to stand ourselves out, which is why we receive the bigger rewards when they come”.

Mr Aiyetan further explained that young journalists had been presented with two diametrically opposite routes, “either you stomach the chicken feeds and lose your value and focus, or you dignify yourself and become a reputable international journalist,” he suggested.

Other instructors at the training include Kemi Busari of Premium Times, Opeyemi Kehinde of Fact Check Hub, and Damilola Ojetunde ( an international Data Journalist).

Taking the inquisitive trainees on the journalism ethics on the final day of the training programme, Kemi Busari also seconded that it is advisable for any journalist who wishes to push their passion and nose for in-depth research to the zenith to not jump on the ugly bandwagon by requesting for a tip at any event positing that it could be detrimental to their progress.

“ The lowest low a journalist could reach is to request for a tip during an assignment. It will certainly be difficult, but if you can resist the temptation, you will surely reap the dividends”, the Dubawa Editor added.

Meanwhile, International Data Journalist Damilola Ojetunde charged the journalists to ensure that their reportage is data-driven.

However, he opined that data that is to be provided must be accurate and up to date; he felt that humanizing one’s stories involves backing it up with verifiable data.

“To do your job as an investigative reporter, your accurate data is as important as your report. You should be ready to dig deep to get accurate data to substantiate your facts”, he said, responding to a question asked by one of the participants.

The programme was sponsored by Mac Arthur Foundation, a private foundation that supports non-profit organizations and public interest initiatives in more than fifty countries around the world.

Suitable applicants from notable media platforms, such as NTA, Premium Times, ICIR, News Live Nigeria, Sahara Reporters, Cross River Watch, Platform Times, among others as well as freelance journalists were selected for the training.

An official of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) was also a facilitator at the training.

At the same time, the programme also featured interactive sessions among top editors, Senior and Chief reporters including Joke Kujenya, a tenacious Doctor of Law and the participants .