University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Department of Journalism and Media Studies

The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, also known as Wits University, is a leading, internationally ranked, research-intensive university located in Johannesburg, South Africa. It organizes the African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC) to celebrate and promote investigative reporting in Africa. This award supports 10 Nigerian investigative journalists for the 2022 edition of the AIJC, in Johannesburg from October 31 to November 2, 2022. The participants benefit from media leaders, entrepreneurs, and editors; sharing stories and learnings in investigative journalism and practice; discussing the challenges facing the field; participating in training and networking events; and fostering collaborations. The support is part of On Nigeria’s effort to strengthen the role of investigative journalism in anti-corruption and accountability through capacity building for Nigerian media practitioners.

Wits Journalism at the University of the Witwatersrand is a program for aspiring and working journalists that has been running the African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC) since 2005. This will be the 13th conference held in South Africa to support investigative journalism and the training of African journalists in investigative skills. This award supports five Nigerian journalists to attend the 2018 AIJC in South Africa. After attending the conference, we expect the sponsored journalists to utilize the connections, skills, and ideas that they glean to cover issues relevant to their communities, including corruption and lack of accountability. In the past, attendees of the conference have returned home to run ground-breaking projects on corruption and abuse of power, launch investigative teams and non-profit centers, and spread investigative reporting to where it is needed most.