UK Government Partners with PAU to Sponsor Science‑Reporting Training for 60 Nigerian Journalists

The United Kingdom Government, together with the School of Media and Communication at Pan‑Atlantic University (PAU), recently funded training for 60 Nigerian journalists in science and technology reporting, with the goal of enhancing ethical journalism, countering misinformation, and encouraging evidence‑based reporting.

Titled “Advancing Media Freedom through Science and Technology Journalism,” the program assembled reporters from various Nigerian media outlets, including THISDAY’s Sunday Ehigiator, for sessions on science communication, media freedom, information access, and how technology shapes journalism.

During the event, Jonny Baxter, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, reiterated the UK’s dedication to press freedom and responsible journalism in Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of accurate, evidence‑based reporting amid rapid technological change and widespread misinformation.

Baxter said the training was intended to give journalists the skills to collect data, confront misinformation, and responsibly convey verified scientific information.

He added, “In an age of rapid technological change, accurate, ethical, and evidence‑based reporting has never been more essential,” noting that the spread of unverified information on digital platforms heightens journalists’ duty to deliver factual, balanced coverage.

Baxter also highlighted the long‑standing partnership between the British High Commission and Nigerian media professionals, which has included a series of capacity‑building initiatives in Lagos, Abuja, and the United Kingdom over the past two years.

Ikechukwu Obiaya, Dean of PAU’s School of Media and Communication, described journalism as a public service that must be grounded in truth, fairness, accountability, and ethical responsibility.

Obiaya cautioned that the proliferation of social media and digital platforms has produced a “free‑for‑all” information environment, where professional journalism increasingly competes with misinformation and