Nigerian journalists have been urged to harness the power of their reporting to drive positive societal change.  This call was made during a panel discussion titled “Beyond Awards: The Impact of Great Investigative Stories” at the Amplify In-depth Media Conference, organised by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism and held on Friday in Abuja.

Speaking at the conference, Founder of TV360, Deji Badmus, emphasised that all forms of journalism contain elements of investigation, as they all seek to answer the fundamental who, what, where, when, and how.

He further emphasised the transformative power of investigative journalism, stating, “Without a passion for journalism, you can’t do a very good job of investigative reporting. It doesn’t necessarily pay well. It requires a passion to bring the truth to light, uncover what many want to keep hidden, hold authorities accountable, and get leaders at every level to perform.”

Deji commended the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism and other organisation for their significant contributions to the development of investigative journalism in Nigeria. He cited the repair of the Police school, the Third Mainland bridges, and several other impactful projects as concrete examples of how journalists’ credible reporting can bring about positive change.

Deputy Editor of Eagle Online, Juliana Francis, identified the lack of mentorship as a key obstacle preventing many journalists from producing impactful stories. She encouraged young journalists to seek guidance from experienced investigative journalists and to be passionate about pursuing stories that can create positive change.