Published 5th Sep, 2022

By Daniel Ojukwu

The Foundation for Investigative Journalism and Social Justice (FIJ) has been selected for the first Nigeria Media Innovation Programme (NAMIP) of the Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF).

The MDIF announced on Monday that FIJ is one of 11 media organisations selected from a pool of over 200 applicants “who are building innovative news and information products”.

The three-year initiative, according to the organisation, is aimed at increasing capacity, generating sustainable and diverse revenue streams and building audiences of independent media in Nigeria.

“(NAMIP) is thrilled to announce the first participants in the program. They were selected from over 200 applications after careful consideration by an Advisory Committee comprising leading professionals in journalism, business, academia and innovative enterprise,” the organisation said in its media statement.

“The 11 participants are media organisations who are building innovative news and information products which explore opportunities to reach and connect with broader audiences through digital platforms and technologies, and develop new revenue generation opportunities and sustainable business models.

“These participants are mission-driven organisations passionate about trying new approaches to local news and information.”

Other selected media organisations are Culture Custodian, Dubawa, Edugist, Farming Farmers Farms, HumAngle and Lavun Community Radio.

Prime Progress, Solacebase, TV 360, and Voix Collective were also selected for the programme.

Bilal Randeree, MDIF’s programme director for Africa & MENA, said the participants would benefit from a combination of grant funding, technical assistance and strategic capacity building interventions.

“We look forward to assisting these organisations with finding the space and opportunity to innovate, so that they can grow their audiences and increase their revenue to become financially sustainable,” he said.

NAMIP, implemented by Media Development Investment Fund, a not-for-profit investment fund for independent media, is funded by MacArthur Foundation to accelerate digital innovation and foster new business models for independent media in Nigeria.

The sucessful 11 media outfits are an “even distribution of non-profits, start-ups and private organisations all looking to secure NAMIP’s unique blend of capacity building, including a combination of grants, coaching and tailored technical assistance, either to get their ideas off the ground or to expand what they have developed”.

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