Media, Civil Society Urged to Deepen Use of FOI Act, Embrace Digital Tools for Transparency, Public Accountability

Esther Oluku

The Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Mr Edetaen Ojo, has urged journalists and civil society organisations to strengthen their understanding and use of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act in order to enhance public access to accurate information and improve democratic accountability.

He made the call while fielding questions on the sidelines of a two-day Freedom of Information (FOI) Training Workshop for Journalists and Civil Society Organizations, organized by MRA in Lagos.

He shared that as information lies at the heart of journalism and Civil Society activism, knowledge of the FOI Act is an indispensable tool for reporters and CSOs seeking to obtain credible data from government and public institutions.

Effective understanding and utilisation of the FOI act, he said, will empower journalists and CSOs with accurate information to communicate with the public how government and public institutions work.

“It is important that journalists who work with information and are constantly in search of information are aware of this tool and know how to use it,” he said.

Ojo explained that equipping journalists and CSOs with FOI knowledge and request skill would further expand public awareness, especially in the absence of adequate government-led enlightenment efforts.

Also, MRA facilitator, Ayomide Eweje, noted that by utilizing digital tools, journalists and CSOs can strengthen data analysis, deepen investigative journalism and broaden data access to underserved communities.

“The world has advanced beyond just paper and pen. Everything has been digitalized. It is essential that journalists and CSOs improve on their tools to broaden the reach and accessibility of their work,” she said.

She emphasized that digital literacy has become a non-negotiable skill for journalists and CSOs who want to stay relevant in a fast-evolving media landscape. She stressed the importance of embracing platforms such as Google Sheets, Excel, artificial intelligence and other digital tools to improve data handling, fact-checking, and storytelling.

The training, organised by Media Rights Agenda and supported by Luminate, aims to build a stronger corps of journalists and civil society actors who can effectively use the FOI Act to promote transparency, support investigative journalism, and empower citizens with adequate information.