Ibe Pascal, Investigative Reporter with an online newspaper, crimefacts.news has been selected to participate in the 2023 Open Contract Reporting Fellowship organized by the International Center For Investigative Reporting, ICIR, Abuja.
The OCPR is an accountability reporting project of the Centre that seeks to promote fiscal transparency and accountability in the budget and procurement processes in Nigeria.
The project aims to build capacity and provide mentoring and financial support for selected journalists to work with The ICIR to undertake investigative and data-driven reports on budget and procurement issues.
The organiser says, “In the last five years, the Centre has worked to build the capacity for journalists to effectively investigate and report on budget and procurement issues, thus strengthening open contracting processes and engendering effective service delivery for the welfare of the citizens, particularly at the sub-regional level.
“In its second year, the OCRP is a three-year project funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation under its On-Nigeria Anti-Corruption Programme and would last until 2024.”
Reacting to the selection, Pascal said he was delighted to participate in the fellowship and training.
He said, “This is my twenty-two attempts in applying for various Fellowships both at international and national levels. I am very excited to be among the participants for this 2023 edition.
“As a young Investigative reporter, these are great opportunities aimed to develop and learn new ideas and method in the field of Investigative journalism, I look forward to learning everything which I needed to learn, “Pascal said.