A UK journalism college is to train a group of press officers from the Nigerian government as well as staff of a leading African broadcaster.

Highbury College, Portsmouth, will play host to staff from Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Information and Communications who are starting a ten-day media course there next Tuesday.

Highbury lecturers will train them in media skills, including presentation, production and dealing with the media.

The government workers will be followed by a group of 45 employees of Nigeria-based African Independent Television later in the year.

The deal follows a series of workshops given by college staff at the fifth African Film and Television Expo in Abuja, Nigeria in March.

Head of media and art Peter Moutray said: “This opportunity to train the Nigerian government officers has come about from links we made at the Expo.

“We enjoy a high quality reputation within journalism in the UK and clearly we impressed in Nigeria.”

According to the National Council for the Training of Journalists, Highbury College offers one of the UK’s top ten journalism courses.

As well as receiving media training in Highbury’s modern media suites, the course will also serve as a cultural exchange, with the officers being treated to cultural and social events such as trips to the Spinnaker Tower and the London Eye.

Comments

Chris (07/08/2008 08:09:43)
I’m sure they will enjoy their freebie trips to high profile landmarks at the courtesy of the taxpayer. It’s a shame the ordinary man in the street has to pay exorbidant prices to get into these attractions.
Who is paying for all this?

Mike (07/08/2008 10:02:05)
I do wish all that attend this training the best of luck and hope they get a job as a result of this, but can’t help feeling that there is a missed opportunity to help media students in the UK in the same way that maybe can’t fund training or get the help to forward there career. Unfortunately for UK students it is not a big enough story or PR stunt if you help every day people that get on and make do.

Rob (07/08/2008 12:22:21)
Presumably the Nigerian government and the broadcasters are paying for “all this”. Lots of companies pay for training of their employees. Get a grip Chris and Mike.

Mike Powell (07/08/2008 18:39:12)
The above bigots obviously are unaware of what a ‘cultural exchange’ means. Idiots! Go back to reading the express and daily mail you pathetic people.

Gareth Davies (11/08/2008 21:47:46)
I applaud this Michael Powell chap for a fine comment and for putting these oily oiks in their place. Well done sir! Give this man a job! Perhaps on The News in Portsmouth?…

carole (03/09/2008 11:29:56)
hello,i was pleased with this exchange progam.Is there any way it could be extended to cameroon female journalists?
We lack training of the sort and when it does arrive only the big cities are concerned.Journalists fron the suburbs are left out.I hope the nigerian officilas will put into practise all they have learnt.