By Joke Kujenya
PUBLICA OFFICIALS must be held accountable beyond election periods, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has emphasised.
This assertion came during a virtual training session for media professionals in Lagos, where CAPPA reinforced the importance of journalism in civic engagement and democratic accountability.
Speaking online, CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, highlighted the indispensable role of journalists in scrutinising government actions and fulfilling public interest duties.
“Journalists must inform the public not just about elections but also about the aftermath, ensuring those in power remain transparent and truthful to the electorate,” he said.
The training, themed “Media Practitioners as Catalysts for Civic Engagement and Democratic Accountability,” was designed to equip journalists with the necessary skills to enhance public participation in governance.
The webinar, facilitated by Joseph Jibueze, Deputy News Editor and Head of the Law Desk at The Nation newspaper, provided in-depth insights into media responsibilities in democratic societies.
Jibueze elaborated on the core concepts of civic engagement and democratic accountability. “A media practitioner is someone engaged in writing, editing, or conveying news and public information,” he explained.
Defining civic engagement, he noted, “It involves individuals and communities taking both political and non-political actions to safeguard public values or drive change.”
He also emphasised that true civic engagement means actively contributing to public life and developing the knowledge, skills, and commitment necessary to make a difference.
Jibueze affirmed that democratic accountability hinges on transparency, with the media serving as a critical watchdog.
“As media practitioners, we have a duty to scrutinise governments, corporations, and institutions, ensuring they remain answerable to the people,” he stated.
He further stressed that journalists must ask the tough questions that the public cannot always pose directly.
Providing accurate, unbiased, and comprehensive information about government policies and decisions is essential for empowering citizens to make informed choices, he added.
Stressing on investigative journalism as a tool for change, Jibueze highlighted the necessity of digging deeper into issues of grafts in government or public and corporate offices in exposing corruption and abuses of power.
“Conducting in-depth investigations to uncover corruption, nepotism, and other forms of wrongdoing is vital in holding leaders accountable,” he said.
He further emphasised the media’s role in facilitating public debates, ensuring diverse voices are heard, and fostering informed discussions on governance.
In recent years, CAPPA has been actively engaging journalists through various training programmes and workshops aimed at strengthening ethical reporting and fostering democratic participation.
These sessions provide practical guidance on maintaining journalistic integrity while amplifying civic engagement efforts.
CAPPA’s stance stems from the fact that by equipping media professionals with essential tools, it would continue to reinforce the press’s role as a pillar of democracy, ensuring accountability, transparency, and an informed citizenry.
