Godstime Simon
The Wole Soyinka Centre of Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) on Tuesday, 15th April 2025, held a conversation on X-space with a seasoned crop of journalists, brainstorming on ways to sustain investigative journalists amidst failing support from foreign donor agencies.
The theme of the discussion is “Strengthening Investigative Journalism Through Local Support and Sustainable Models.”
Members of the panel are: the Chief Executive Officer, RadioNow 95.3fm, Ms. Kadaria Ahmed, Founder, Dataphyte, Mr Joshua Olufemi, Programme Director, Daily Trust Foundation, Dr Theophilus Abbah and News Manager, Nigeria Info FM, Port Harcourt, Ms. Chioma Eze Nwafor.
According to Mrs Motunrayo Alaka, the Executive Director of the Wole Soyinka Centre of Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), a form of large-scale dissemination needed to be employed to solicit fundraising to help empower investigative journalism.
She said, “To protect investigative journalism, it is imperative to seek local support from financial institutions or a community base to empower investigative journalism. The local support we are talking about equals open engagement, and this is only possible if we have local awareness, which would be distributed to various media groups, outlets, and organisations.”
The News Manager of 92.3 F.M Nigeria info, Chioma Eze Nwafor, who is also the anchor person, said that Investigative Journalism is now faced with reduced models and new financial pressure.
Nwafor said: “Investigative Journalism has long been a cornerstone of accountability and democracy, exposing corruption and amplifying under-reported issues as well as holding those in power to account, but sustaining its critical work has become increasingly challenging.
“In particular, traditional funding models have reduced, and new financial pressure has emerged, making investigative journalism difficult to perform. In relative to the growth of investigative journalism, practical strategies and innovative solutions must be deployed for the continual survival and growth of investigative reporting.”
The Programmes Director, Daily Trust Foundation, Dr. Theophilus Abbah, said that fundraising was required for investigative journalism to thrive effectively and efficiently in Nigeria.
His words: “We need to have a community of investigative reporters in Nigeria as well as network with editors in investigative journalism. This community will come together to discuss how they can raise money to do their job because not all journalists are investigative reporters.
“Investigative reporting comes from the mind, so therefore, collective like minds should come together to set up a body of investigative journalism so that funders can take us more seriously when we start fundraising.”
According to Nabila Usman, the Head of Programme for RadioNow 95.3 F.M, who represented the Chief Executive Officer for Radio Now, Kadaria Ahmed, local and international support were required to sponsor investigative journalism.
Usman added: “The approach and focus need to be around accountability culture. If agencies could have it, there is nothing wrong with funding from the government as long as it does not change independence. Independent funders are required in order not to influence investigative projects.”
