US earnmarks $50m to train journalists, civil society, INEC officials on elections

United States of America, USA, has earnmarked $50 million dollars to support the training of journalists, INEC officials and civil society organisations for the credible conduct of Nigeria’s 2023 general elections.

U.S. Consul-General in Lagos, Mr Will Stevens, made this known at the opening of a two-day workshop on election reporting for political beat reporters, editors, video journalists and videographers in Ibadan.

The workshop was organised by West Africa Broadcast and Media Academy (WABMA) and Enugu Literary Society (ELS), and supported by United States Consulate-General, Lagos.

Stevens said the allocated fund would be used to provide technical assistance for beneficiaries.

The consul-general said that the focus of the United States was to ensure that Nigeria’s 2023 general elections are peaceful and credible.

We are supporting more than 100 journalists with this workshop in Ibadan, Enugu, Port Harcourt and Lagos as part of U.S. efforts to support Nigeria’s elections.

“Over the last three years and into the next year too, U.S. government has allocated more than 50 million dollars for technical assistance, support, trainings, for INEC, and for civil society, among others.

“We have been working closely in partnership with civil society and INEC, through the U.S. Agency for International Development.

“The partnership focuses on technical assistance and support for the system that has been put in place to ensure that every vote counts,’’ he said.