The United States of America has agreed to allocate $50 million to support the training of journalists, INEC officials and civil society organisations for the conduct of Nigeria’s 2023 general elections.
This was disclosed Tuesday by the US Consul-General in Lagos, Will Stevens, at the opening of a two-day workshop on election reporting for political reporters, editors, video journalists and videographers in Ibadan.
The workshop was organised by West Africa Broadcast and Media Academy, Enugu Literary Society, in collaboration with the United States Consulate-General, Lagos.
Stevens admitted that the allocated fund would be used to provide technical assistance for beneficiaries.
The consul-general said the focus of the US is 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 US efforts to support Nigeria’s elections.
“Over the last three years and into the next year too, the US government has allocated more than $50million 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 US 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.
Stevens also noted that the US government would continue to emphasize the value of voting and protecting a free press, adding that the media is absolutely essential in preserving democracy.(Ripples Nigeria)
