THE STANBIC IBTC MEDIA TRAINING IS TO ENHANCE EXCELLENCE -DR. SOGUNLE

 THE STANBIC IBTC MEDIA TRAINING IS TO ENHANCE EXCELLENCE -DR. SOGUNLE

The Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC, Dr. Demola Sogunle has admonished the Nigerian Journalists to be abreast the trend of social media menace as to keeping facts sacred, guide against fake news, Cyber crime act aswell fashion out an essential of reporting Banking and Finance in this social media age.

The Stanbic IBTC, Chief Executive, Dr. 'Demola Sogunle gave the charge in his opening speech   in  the training room of Stanbic IBTC at Water Carrington, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

The Don, Lagos Business School, Dr.Jekwu Ozoemere (FCIB), in his lecture titled " Essential of reporting Banking & Finance" said how the Nigerian media cover the country's banking and financial sector has been the subject of great debate amongst some in the banking and financial services especially during the 2007/2008 global financial crisis as well in preceding and subsequent years.

He added that journalists must be braved enough to ask the right questions

considering the fiscal policies driven by the government and monetary policies rate  driven by the CBN saying understanding the financial statement; balance sheet, profit and loss account, cash flow statement is germaned to good reportage at improving National Economy.

The facilitator,Stanbic IBTC training school, Toni Kan said  journalists must not eschew  from accuracy, balance, objectivity, conciseness, fairness among others adding that it is expedient to guide against mis- information, mal- information and dis- information in order to distinguish journalism profession in this age of social media.

Toni added that  News must be factual, correct, informative, true and verifiable identifying the kind of news to be reported at this era of mistrust to be authentic, factual, fact checked, empathy, less gory, balanced, no speculations and devoid of bias.

Barr. Deji Toye also admonished journalists in this social media to be conversant with Cyber crime act (Prohibition & Prevention)2015,  and its amendment in this February,2024 classifying offences to be vertical and horizontal which denotes acts against the State and persons, including corporations, forgery, fraud, child pornography, cyber stalking, cybersquatting, respectively.

Barr. Deji advised Nigerian media to consider their vulnerability as section 24(2) emphasises on transmission of any communication through an electronic devise citing Erisco Vs Chioma Okoli's case adding that even shared message on WhatsApp up to 5 people is regarded as publication.

"Cyber stalking, any person who knowingly or intentionally sends a message or other matter by means of computer systems or network that:

(a) pornography or (b) to be false, for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order,posing a threat to life or causing such a message to be sent; commits an offence under this act and shall be liable", he said.

Speaking,Head Marketing and Corporate Communications, Stanbic IBTC Bridget Oyefeso-Odusanmi,  commended TMTR for the initiative which she said is “imperative in this era when individuals and corporates are daily falling victim to fake news. Building capacity for media practitioners in this area, I believe, will enhance the quality of their reportage.”

One of the participants, Mrs Shola Adegbola thanks Stanbic IBTC holding for organizing the lectures to widen the horizon of the journalists in Nigeria saying the beneficiaries will definitely reciprocate the gestures to media colleagues out there.