A university in northern Nigeria— North-Eastern University (NEU)— has named its multimedia centre after Ghanaian-born investigative journalist and lawyer, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
Anas remains Africa’s best-celebrated investigative journalist.
Former world leaders including the 44th president of the United States of America, Barack Obama, the 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, and the 57th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, among several others lauded him some time ago at different public platforms for his courage and investigative journalism method.
The university’s pro-chancellor and founder, Dr Sani Jauro, said the honour was bestowed on the undercover journalist in recognition of his sacrifice for humanity and the impact of his work on the continent.
“I have personally followed the great work of Anas and when the decision was taken to name this all-important studio after him, I knew it was the beginning of great things to come. NEU is happy to name this after you for your great sacrifice to humanity,” he said.
The pro-chancellor, who is also known as Danlawal Gombe, gave the remarks during the commissioning ceremony of the facility— Anas Aremeyaw Anas Multimedia Centre— in Gombe State as part of a one-day International Conference on Trends in Investigative Journalism in Northern Nigeria.
The event was jointly organised by WikkiTimes, NEU and the Tiger Eye Foundation Ghana. It had in attendance Anas, professors and vice-chancellors among other dignitaries.
In his keynote address, Anas described the honour as a source of inspiration for a new generation of fearless journalists.
“I hope to see, in the coming years, courageous journalists whose work will stand the test of time and shine a light on corruption in our society,” he said.
He told aspiring journalists at the event that the profession was both tough and rewarding and meant to serve the public good.
“There is no point in doing journalism if it does not benefit society. Our investigative journalism should be tailored toward uplifting communities and fostering development. If we fail to do this, then we have failed as journalists,” he said.
“You have to psych yourself up. It’s like a heated kitchen—if you don’t have the energy to stand the heat, you get out.”
About the facility
The Anas Aremeyaw Anas Multimedia Studio is a brand-new facility that effortlessly blends creativity and technology.
It includes advanced audio and video production divisions with professional cameras, green screens and recording equipment.
The graphics, animation and photography units are furnished with high-performance computers and digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) setups.
It is also equipped with live streaming and virtual reality laboratories that enable immersive content creation and motion graphics tools that simultaneously incorporate motion capture technology for digital storytelling.
Also in the setup are storage and backup solutions that ensure data security and ergonomic workspaces.
Address from WikkiTimes
Speaking at the function, WikkiTimes co-publisher, Ajibola Amzat, said his outfit had faced many challenges including seven lawsuits since its establishment in 2018.
But he said the media outlet had remained steadfast in its quest to keep the spotlight on corruption and hold power to account.
“We founded WikkiTimes to bring about change in northern Nigeria. Despite legal battles and threats, we continue to hold power accountable.
“I call on stakeholders and the academic community to support our efforts to ensure transparency and good governance,” he said.
Haruna Mohammed Salisu, also a co-publisher at WikkiTimes, stated in an interview that the newspaper aimed to train and produce Nigeria’s finest investigative journalists.
“We are committed to nurturing fearless journalists who will hold power to account and promote developmental journalism,” he said.
Fearless journalists needed to confront Nigeria’s corrupt system— Prof. Pate
A renowned media scholar and vice chancellor of the Federal University Kashere, Prof. Umaru Pate, recommended a new generation of fearless journalists as an antidote to Nigeria’s corruption crisis.
He lauded the naming of the studio after Anas, describing it as a significant step toward motivating students.
While highlighting the presence of corruption and lamenting its effects on such sectors as education, agriculture, politics, and environmental exploitation, Prof. Pate also called for collective efforts to address the evil.
“Corruption is a multifaceted problem that hinders our nation’s progress,” Pate stated. “We must retrace our steps and change the way we operate if we are to overcome these challenges.”
The dean of the School of Communication, Management, and Social Sciences at NEU, Dr. Hamid Adamu Mohammed, similarly identified investigative journalism as an effective tool needed to deal with the challenges facing northern Nigeria.
“The north is grappling with numerous issues that require in-depth investigative reporting. Most investigations focus on government corruption, but other critical areas—such as the activities of clerics and traditional institutions—remain underreported,” he noted.
Dr. Adamu also advocated the use of local languages in investigative journalism to increase audience engagement and ensure that crucial stories resonated with the people.
Victoria Bamas, editor at the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), highlighted the need for gender mainstreaming in newsrooms.
She noted that women’s issues were often underreported, and called for greater representation of female journalists to ensure balanced and inclusive reporting.
“Women’s voices are often marginalised in our societies. We need to amplify these voices and strive for gender balance in newsrooms to ensure that all perspectives are represented,” she stressed.
Source: Edward Adeti/Media Without Borders/mwbonline.org
