Blue Economy: IMION offers maritime journalists subsidised executive course
Maureen Aguta
The International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION) has offered maritime journalists subsidised access to its Executive Course on Blue Economy for Media Practitioners, as part of efforts to strengthen specialised reporting and deepen public understanding of the sector.
The Director-General of IMION, Rear Admiral Thaddeus Udofia (Rtd), disclosed this on Wednesday when the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) visited the institute, saying preparations were underway for the commencement of the second cohort of the programme.
Udofia said the initiative was designed to address knowledge gaps among media practitioners reporting the rapidly expanding blue economy, stressing that effective coverage of the sector requires more than a general understanding of maritime activities.
According to him, journalists with inadequate knowledge of the technical and economic dimensions of the blue economy risk producing reports that may not accurately reflect developments in the sector.
He noted that inaccurate reporting could trigger counter-reports and conflicting interpretations from stakeholders who possess deeper knowledge of the issues being reported.
“A course like this will enable journalists to know better and be able to report in-depth on whatever goes on in the blue economy sub-sector,” he said.
Udofia explained that the blue economy encompasses a wide range of activities and opportunities beyond its conventional association with shipping and maritime transport.
He said specialised training would expose journalists to the various dimensions of the sector and equip them with the knowledge required to interrogate policies, investments, opportunities and challenges more effectively.
The IMION chief executive said the institute decided to subsidise the participation of maritime journalists to remove cost barriers and encourage wider participation in the programme.
He added that the initiative would also create a mutually beneficial relationship between the institute and the media, with journalists gaining specialised knowledge while helping to improve public awareness of IMION’s programmes and activities.
Udofia said the institute was particularly interested in ensuring that maritime journalists understood the emerging blue economy agenda sufficiently to provide deeper context in their reports.
He maintained that as Nigeria seeks to harness its vast maritime resources for economic diversification, job creation and sustainable development, the media has an important role to play in informing the public and holding stakeholders accountable.
He therefore encouraged maritime correspondents to take advantage of the subsidised programme, describing specialised knowledge as essential to credible and impactful reporting of the blue economy.
Blue Economy: IMION Offers Maritime Journalists Subsidised Executive Course