Sterling One Foundation is spearheading a first-of-its-kind sustainability training program for Nigerian journalists and media professionals. The workshop organized by Sterling One Foundation in partnership with Microsoft Nigeria and other stakeholders, aims to build capacities of journalists for effective climate change reportage and coverage of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Sterling One Foundation (SOF) is a registered non-profit focused on tackling the root causes of poverty in Nigeria, and Africa through interventions and social impact programmes across five critical sectors namely: climate action, health, education, and youth development, gender equality and empowerment, and food security. The Foundation’s programmes adopt a central theme of prioritizing partnerships for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). More information on the foundation can be found on it’s website www.onefoundation.ng.
Marking the International Day for Climate Action, the two-day advocacy training session held in Lagos seeks to equip over 100 media personnel across Nigeria with the skills and knowledge to elevate narratives around climate adaptation and sustainable development.
The Call for action, seeks accelerated sustainable solutions to all the world’s biggest challenges ranging from poverty and gender to climate change, inequality and closing the finance gap,” the Foundation, in its report explained that sustainability Journalism is one of the drivers of solutions to the social, economic and environmental challenges.
The SDGs are 17 global goals adopted by all UN member states in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030. Journalism and media are central in contributing to and benefitting from sustainable development, according to UNESCO.
“With only seven years remaining until 2030, complacency and status quo are no longer sustainable. It is imperative for the media and private sector working together to proactively address climate change challenges,” said Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation, while addressing attendees.
The training sessions featured leading journalists and experts facilitating discussions on climate reporting, editorial issues, and environmental best practices. Microsoft Nigeria’s country head, Ola Williams, expressed satisfaction at the workshop’s achievement in empowering journalists to drive sustainability efforts and climate action.
“Microsoft is committed to working with key stakeholders across public and private sectors to escalate the climate crisis. This training served as a catalyst for change, with media taking a central role in combating climate change,” she remarked.
Statistics reveal climate change contributes to around 250,000 annual deaths worldwide currently, a figure projected to rise in the coming decades. Alarming weather-related disasters and economic losses in recent years highlight the urgency of the problem.
By providing tools to strengthen media advocacy on these pressing issues, Sterling Bank aims to foster an environment where journalists play a pivotal role in pushing forward the sustainability agenda and influencing public discourse on the climate emergency.
