All is now set for the 2019 Nigerian Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) training workshop scheduled to hold on Friday July 26, 2019, at the Golden Tulip Hotel, along the Murtala Muhammed International Airport road, Lagos.
Expected as special guests during the training are Aliyu Jelani, director-general, National Automotive Design & Development Council (NADDC) and Boboye Oyeyemi, Corp Marshal of the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC).
The annual training workshop which is designed to boost human capacity for journalists reporting the automotive sector in the country is the fourth edition in the series.
Already Toyota Nigeria Limited, CFAO, Weststar Associates, Mercedes Benz, Stallion Motors, Mandilas, Pirelli and others have indicated interest to be part of the training programme. Others involved include: LASACO, AXA Mansard and Cars45 among others.
During the one day event, automotive journalists will be taken through topics like basic areas on mechatronics, issues that borders on the automotive policy, zero tariff and the role of insurance in the automotive industry.
According to the organising committee of the automotive journalists’ workshop and capacity building programme, the event will also provide avenue for critical stakeholders to ventilate their perspectives on some of the burning issues that relates with the auto industry and the way forward.
According to Julie Chi-Nwaoha, chairperson of this year’s event, the auto industry is one fundamental industry in Nigeria that one cannot ignored because of the huge contributions to the nation’s economy.
She emphasised that there is need for consistent training and retraining because of its benefit to the motoring journalists that are reporting the beat.
On how the training can benefit journalists and stakeholders, the chairperson said “There is no way we can finish the training and remain the same.
“Journalism is wide and we must open ourselves to consistent training and retraining. It is important that journalists writing about the automotive sector are well informed; they must be well educated and empowered to write effectively without fears”, Chi-Nwaoha added.
Also commenting on the training programme, Chairman of NAJA, Mike Ochonma said the training workshop will be an eye opener to members as knowledgeable and competent instructors will be on hand to give their best to members.
The NAJA training workshop is an annual training programme organised to refresh the minds of practicing auto journalists on the trend of auto journalism worldwide. Members of the association are motoring journalists that cut across the newspapers, television and online media organisations including bloggers from across the country.
