The Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) has commended WikkiTimes, a pro-north investigative and data journalism platform, for its unique accountability reporting that holds power to account at the sub-national levels in northern Nigeria.
In 2022, WSCIJ selected WikkiTimes among 26 sub-grantee media organisations under its three-year-long project: the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability Project (CMEDIA) funded by the MacArthur Foundation.
Motunrayo Alaka, Executive Director of WSCIJ gave the commendation during a virtual visit to WikkiTimes on Friday.
She said over the last few years, WikkiTimes has produced excellent investigative reporting that positively touched many lives in its focus areas.
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The Executive Director also extolled the newsroom’s effort to motivating young women journalists of northern extraction to venture into accountability journalism.
Alaka urged the online media platform to look for additional funding support elsewhere to sustain the brand of accountability reporting for which it is known.
On his part, Haruna Mohammed Salisu, the co-publisher of WikkiTimes said over the last year, the organisation trained more than 90 journalists and bloggers drawn from various states making up the Northeast.
He said WikkiTimes produced over 30 investigative reports within the period under review, adding that the organisation recruited and trained interns who are now excelling in the business of accountability and data journalism.
Mohammed solicited the continued support of WSCIJ to continue holding power to account especially at the grassroots level, where the impact of the mainstream media is rarely felt.
