Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN) has urged journalists to play a more strategic role in deepening police accountability and p...
Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN) has urged journalists to play a more strategic role in deepening police accountability and public confidence in law enforcement through ethical and informed reporting.
The call was made during a one-day sensitisation workshop organised by the organisation for media practitioners, aimed at improving coverage of police reform and accountability issues across Nigeria.
The training session, which attracted journalists from different media platforms, focused on strengthening participants’ understanding of ongoing police reforms and the influence of the media in shaping public discourse around security governance.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of PWAN, Kemi Okenyodo, explained that the engagement was designed to support democratic values by equipping journalists with practical knowledge to report security sector reforms accurately, responsibly, and without sensationalism.
She noted that discussions during the workshop covered citizens’ rights, existing police accountability structures, and the ethical obligations of journalists when reporting security-related issues, stressing that credible and balanced journalism remains critical to sustainable reform in the policing system.
Okenyodo described PWAN as a women-led civil society organisation focused on promoting citizen participation, strengthening security governance, and improving protection frameworks across Nigeria and West Africa.
According to her, the organisation’s interventions are guided by the principle that policing must be professional, transparent, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all segments of society, particularly women, young people, and other vulnerable groups.
She disclosed that the workshop formed part of a larger project supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, titled “Enhancing Public Trust and Gender-
Responsive Policing in Nigeria Through the Effective Implementation of the Police Act 2020.”
The project, she said, is being implemented across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and seeks to advance police reform by strengthening institutional accountability, promoting gender-sensitive policing, and improving public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.
Okenyodo added that increasing awareness of the Police Act 2020 and its provisions would help reduce rights violations while encouraging a policing culture that is more responsive to citizens.
She further explained that the media-focused workshop was intended to bridge gaps between journalists and law enforcement agencies, enhance public understanding of police regulations, and promote transparency in police operations.
She noted that the engagement also provided participants with an open platform to exchange experiences, raise concerns, and offer practical suggestions aimed at improving cooperation and trust between communities and the police.
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