The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has on Saturday concluded a two-day capacity-building workshop for journalists with special needs in Kano, aimed at enhancing their skills in digital journalism, artificial intelligence (AI), Canva, digital rights, and data privacy.
The workshop, organized under CITAD’s Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) Digital Hub, was held from Saturday to Sunday as part of the organization’s commitment to promoting digital inclusion in the media sector.
Declaring the event open, CITAD Executive Director, Malam Y.Z. Ya’u, represented by the organization’s Communications Officer, Ali Sabo, said the initiative was designed to strengthen the professional competencies of journalists with disabilities.
“We want to ensure that every journalist, regardless of disability, has equal access to the tools and knowledge shaping modern journalism.
“This training is part of our commitment to digital inclusion. Knowledge is only useful when everyone can access it,” Sabo said.
Sabo, who also led sessions on digital rights, data privacy, and protection, advised participants to safeguard their personal and professional information, stressing that journalists operate in sensitive environments where digital safety is essential.
A lecturer with the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University Kano, Dr Bala Muhammad, urged participants to apply the skills acquired during the training in their newsroom operations.
“Training is meaningful only when it reflects in your work. Pay attention, apply what you learn, and become ambassadors of digital professionalism in your newsrooms,” he said.
Other facilitators included Hamza Fagge, who spoke on digital inclusion, and Mubarak Shehu Dayyab, who trained participants on Canva for journalism, AI in news production, and social media content creation.
Fagge underscored the importance of inclusive digital spaces, noting that technology should serve as “a bridge, not a barrier,” while Dayyab encouraged journalists to embrace modern tools to enhance storytelling.
Participants commended CITAD for the initiative, describing it as empowering and transformative.
Ummasalma Idris Ibrahim of Freedom Radio said the training demonstrated that disability is not a limitation.
“With the right tools, we can compete and excel like anyone else,” she said.
Bashir Ali Haruna of Vision FM added that the workshop offered more than knowledge.
“I now understand how to protect myself online and produce richer content for my audience,” he said.
