Nigerian journalists have been urged to move beyond political rhetoric and focus on evidence-based accountability, as AdvoKC Foundation hosted a virtual training on using data to track government promises.

The training, titled “Using the Promise Tracker for Evidence-Based Advocacy for Journalists,” was held on Thursday, 29 January 2026, via Google Meet, and brought together reporters, civic advocates, and media practitioners from across the country.

The session introduced participants to AdvoKC Foundation’s Legislative Agenda Meter and Promise Tracker, digital tools designed to monitor political promises and translate legislative data into citizen action.

Why it matters

Across Nigeria, elected officials make sweeping promises during campaigns, many of which fade once elections are concluded.

AdvoKC Foundation says legislative tracking helps citizens and journalists move from trust-based governance to proof-based accountability.

The approach focuses on monitoring bills, motions, voting records, committee participation, campaign promises, and constituency-level commitments made by public office holders.

According to the Foundation, tracking these promises strengthens democracy by improving transparency, credibility, and responsiveness in governance.

From promises to proof

Presenting during the session, Kyla Samuel explained that legislative tracking is not just about collecting data, but about following a promise from announcement to outcome.

She outlined how tracking involves documenting progress, identifying delays, and comparing political rhetoric with what is actually delivered.

Using an electoral reform bill as an example, the presentation showed how stalled legislation can weaken democratic processes and undermine fair representation.

AdvoKC’s response, she noted, includes public awareness campaigns, citizen mobilisation, and sustained pressure on lawmakers to act.

What is the Promise Tracker?

Another session, led by Onyinye Edyson, introduced AdvoKC Foundation as a youth-led civic technology organisation focused on transparency, accountability, and active citizenship.

She described the Promise Tracker as the Foundation’s flagship automated platform for monitoring political commitments.

The tool defines a promise as a verifiable, future-oriented commitment and applies the SMART framework—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—to distinguish concrete promises from vague political statements.

Promises are sourced from speeches, manifestos, debates, and policy documents.

Tracking is carried out using Freedom of Information requests, verified media reports, government data, and physical project verification.

Each promise is then rated as Not Yet Rated, In the Works, Kept, Broken, Stalled, or Compromised, with updates published on the Promise Tracker website and social media.

Impact on communities

The platform tracks promises across six key sectors, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, governance reforms, justice and security, and the economy.

Impact stories highlighted during the session included the long-delayed Ajuwon/Akute Road in Ogun State and the absence of local government elections in Anambra State for over a decade.

AdvoKC says such examples show how broken or delayed promises affect access to services, democratic participation, and quality of life for ordinary citizens.

Journalism as a driver of accountability

In another presentation, Luqman Adamu described journalism as a catalyst for democratic impact rather than a mere amplifier of official statements.

He said AdvoKC’s communication strategy prioritises clarity, human-centred storytelling, evidence over noise, and action-oriented reporting.

According to him, journalists play a critical role in exposing the human cost of governance failures and investigating gaps between promises and outcomes.

The Foundation also announced the Journalist Support Grant, aimed at supporting reporters to develop investigative and public-interest stories based on promises already tracked on the Promise Tracker platform.

The grant is open to journalists of all experience levels, with proposals expected to be evidence-driven and focused on public accountability.

What’s next

AdvoKC Foundation says it will continue expanding its journalist partnerships, advocacy campaigns, and public engagement through its website, PromiseTracker NG, social media platforms, webinars, and media collaborations.

The organisation is encouraging journalists to follow promises rather than politicians and to tell stories that reflect how governance decisions affect everyday lives.

The Voice of Nigeria (VON) broadcaster Evelyn Nyam has won the Radio Production of the Year award at the 2024 Nigeria Media Merit Awards (NMMA).

The award ceremony was held on Saturday at the Lagos Continental Hotel in Victoria Island, bringing together leading journalists, broadcasters and media executives from across the country.

Ms Nyam emerged victorious ahead of Destiny Onyemihia of VON and Sunday Igoche of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in a closely contested category.

Award-winning programme

Her winning entry, “Women and Development,” subtitled “Women Empowerment from Margins to Mainstream,” was praised for its strong storytelling and focus on gender inclusion.

Judges cited the programme’s ability to connect grassroots women’s experiences to national development conversations as a key strength.

Media analysts say such content reflects a growing shift towards impact-driven journalism that blends advocacy with public interest reporting.

Industry reactions

Speaking after receiving the award, Ms Nyam dedicated the honour to God and thanked Voice of Nigeria for supporting her professional growth.

“I have been nominated seven times without winning, but tonight God came through for me,” she said.

She urged journalists to remain committed to ethical storytelling, adding that persistence and consistency remain essential in the profession.

“Diligence and perseverance always pay off,” Ms Nyam added.

What’s next

Ms Nyam’s win adds to Voice of Nigeria’s growing presence at national award platforms and may inspire more gender-focused programming across public broadcasting stations.

Industry observers expect increased investment in development-driven radio content ahead of future NMMA editions.

A growing number of Nigerian journalists are facing Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), cases often filed by powerful individuals or institutions to intimidate reporters and suppress public-interest journalism.

At a two-day workshop in Lagos, organised by Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France) under its Enhancing Digital Rights (e-RIGHTS) Project, media professionals, lawyers, and academics examined how SLAPPs weaken press freedom and discussed reforms needed to protect journalists.

Press freedom concerns take centre stage

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos State Council, Mr. Adeleye Ajayi, represented by the Assistant Secretary, NUJ Lagos State Council, Comrade Olayide Awosanya, opened the event with a warning that SLAPPs threaten democratic accountability.

“SLAPP cases are deliberately designed to intimidate, drain resources, and silence critical reporting,” he said.

“We must be equipped not only with journalistic skills but also with the knowledge to recognize when the law is being weaponized to stifle public interest journalism.”

He praised ASF France for its ongoing partnership, adding that the workshop “provides an opportunity to deepen our resilience and sharpen our legal awareness”.

How SLAPPs work  and why journalists struggle to fight back

Legal Toolkit: Understanding the battlefield

Legal expert Dr. Abiodun Odusote, an Associate Professor at the University of Lagos, walked participants through the procedural safeguards available when facing SLAPPs.

He outlined tools such as challenging jurisdiction, filing for expeditious dismissal, and establishing public interest as a defence, noting that many journalists lack access to robust legal support.

He also stressed:

The need for stronger legal networks across states

The shortage of specialised lawyers

The importance of proper evidence storage and documentation

Ethical conduct to avoid claims of personal attacks or discrimination

“Do not disregard even the simplest legal issue,” he said. “And always frame your work in terms of public interest.”

Real-life SLAPP cases reveal deeper challenges

In a separate session, Dr. Folashade Rose Adegbite, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Lagos, dissected ongoing and recent lawsuits filed against Nigerian journalists.

She noted that women journalists experience more psychological trauma during SLAPP episodes.

“The experience for women tends to be more emotionally exhausting,” she explained. “This is why support systems are crucial.”

Participants shared first-hand experiences of intimidation, legal threats, and attempts to silence investigations. The session highlighted the growing pattern of using cybercrime laws and police powers to suppress reporting.

Calls for anti-SLAPP legislation grow louder

A panel session on legal reform emphasised the need for explicit anti-SLAPP legislation in Nigeria.

Stakeholders outlined key priorities:

Cooperation between journalists, lawyers, and judges

Monitoring and evaluating previous media-law agreements

Public education through radio, TV, and digital platforms

Better documentation of SLAPP incidents

Constitutional reforms to limit abusive lawsuits

Sanctions and compensation for malicious litigation

One contributor warned that cyber laws and arbitrary police powers are increasingly used “to suppress society”, calling for clearer legal protections for freedom of expression.

Support networks: “Journalism is passion, but passion does not pay legal bills”

ASF France’s Country Director in Nigeria, Angela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, addressed the financial and emotional burden placed on journalists facing SLAPPs.

She described journalism as a passion-driven profession, yet one where reporters cannot afford legal defence when sued.

“Lawyers cannot work for free; they have families and financial obligations,” she said.

“These legal threats are designed to demoralise journalists  and often, they succeed.”

She urged journalists to:

Verify all information, especially online content

Demand written evidence

Never attend police stations or sensitive meetings alone

Maintain emergency contacts

Use international networks when local support fails

She also highlighted the e-RIGHTS Reporting Platform, which documents SLAPPs and connects victims to legal and financial assistance.

What’s next

The workshop closed with a shared commitment to:

Advocate for anti-SLAPP legislation

Strengthen journalist–lawyer networks

Improve public education on digital rights

Expand support systems for at-risk reporters

Participants agreed that Nigeria’s democratic health depends on protecting journalists from legal intimidation.