ICIR announces OCRP close out, journalism award event
The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) is set to conclude its transformative Open Contract Reporting Project (OCRP) with a high-profile event in Abuja, celebrating seven years of empowering Nigerian journalists to foster transparency and accountability in governance.
Launched in 2017 and supported by the MacArthur Foundation, the OCRP has focused on training journalists to critically report on budgetary and procurement processes across all levels of government. Over the years, the project has equipped more than 300 journalists from various newsrooms across Nigeria and facilitated the publication of over 500 investigative reports, many of which have garnered prestigious awards.
The closeout event, scheduled for December 10 at The Pearl Hotel in Jabi, will feature a keynote address titled “Combating Corruption in Nigeria: The Imperative of Starting with Procurement Fraud” by Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
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The event will also host a panel discussion moderated by governance expert Dr Joe Abah. Esteemed panellists include: Hamza Lawal, CEO of Connected Development (CODE), Lucy Abagi, CEO of Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), Gabriel Okeowo, Country Director of BudgIT, Victoria Bamas, Editor of The ICIR, Khadija Bawas, development journalist.
As part of the celebration, ICIR will recognise journalists who have produced courageous and impactful investigative reports during the project’s tenure. The organisation will also unveil its Investigative Reports and Impact Dashboard (INRID), a tool providing detailed data on contracts, contractors, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, and success stories from the OCRP.
ICIR’s Executive Director, Dayo Aiyetan, highlighted the project’s legacy, stating, “The OCRP has been instrumental in reshaping investigative journalism in Nigeria. It is a testament to the power of the press in driving accountability and transparency.”
Founded as an independent, non-profit investigative news organisation, ICIR is committed to watchdog reporting and capacity-building for Nigerian journalists. The organisation is a member of the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) and operates both its investigative website (www.icirnigeria.org) and fact-checking platform (www.factcheckhub.com).
The public event begins at 10:00 AM and promises to be a celebration of journalistic excellence and a commitment to sustaining accountability in governance.
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