The MacArthur Foundation on Wednesday said it has granted over N2.3billion ($6.3 million) in funding to nine Nigerian media organisations to advance anti-corruption efforts in the country.
In a statement today, it said the grants are part of the Foundation’s ‘On Nigeria’ grant-making, which seeks to reduce corruption by supporting Nigerian-led efforts that strengthen accountability, transparency, and civic participation.
“The nine grants announced today are a continuation of the Foundation’s efforts to strengthen investigative and data-driven journalism in Nigeria and to reinforce the role played by independent media and citizens in revealing and documenting corruption.
“The grants will support a range of projects, including trainings for journalists on investigative field work and data-driven reporting, assistance for independent media organizations working to develop sustainable business models, and new broadcast platforms to increase the reach and effectiveness of investigative reports,” the statement read partly.
Also commenting on the grants, Kole Shettima, the Nigeria Country Director of MacArthur Foundation, said: “These organizations have proven that media, citizens, and advocates can play an important watchdog role to guard against corruption in Nigeria.
“With this continued support of key journalism and media organizations, we hope to strengthen transparency, empower independent voices, and hold authorities to account.”
The recipients of the grants are: Daily Trust Foundation (Abuja); Bayero University, Kano (Kano); Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation (Lagos); International Centre for Investigative Reporting (Abuja); OYA Media (Lagos); Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (Abuja); Sahara Reporters (Lagos); Tiger Eye Social Foundation (Accra, Ghana); and Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (Lagos).
The statement noted that strategic priorities of the Foundation’s On Nigeria grant-making include reducing corruption in the electricity and education sectors; strengthening the criminal justice system through nationwide implementation and enforcement of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and complementary laws and policies; and supporting media and journalism to expose corruption and share information about anticorruption efforts.
“The grants announced today are intended to support this work by building and strengthening a system of accountability journalism in the country,” it noted.
The Foundation also supports key government effectiveness initiatives, including the implementation of the 2015 Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Daily Trust reports that MacArthur Foundation has been making grants in Nigeria since 1989.
