Chinedu Okafor
DATAPHYTE coordinator, Kehinde Ogunwale has emphasized urgent need for data literacy in journalism, saying ,interpreting numbers would significantly improve storytelling, influence policies, and foster accountability in Nigeria’s media landscape.
Speaking at a two day workshop organized by the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Ogunwale explained that data journalism goes beyond reporting figures—it equips journalists with tools to inform development strategies. “We can begin to transform or inform policies and change perspectives by just merely looking at numbers,” he said. “If you are armed with information about the number of poor people living in a community, you can plan a budget or empowerment programme that meets their needs.”
He noted that the strength of data-driven journalism lies in its potential to foresee and prepare for social or economic issues. “Through accurate data interpretation, we can begin to make preparations ahead of a phenomenon. It helps us streamline policies to target specific sectors,” he added.
Ogunwale urged journalists and media organizations to collaborate with government agencies and public institutions in order to verify and strengthen the credibility of information shared with the public. According to him, a well-analyzed dataset, when fused with facts from public bodies, can yield actionable policies.
Addressing concerns about accessibility of data stories to everyday Nigerians, Ogunwale noted that DATAPHYTE is already training aspiring journalists to communicate complex data in simple, relatable ways. “We are teaching and training people interested in data journalism. This not only improves understanding but increases readership,” he explained.
He further stressed that interpreting data opens doors to multiple storytelling angles. “Numbers help us harmonize diverse perspectives of a single story. With that, we can influence policy decisions and direct attention to neglected issues,” he stated.
On the challenges of data journalism, Ogunwale cited poor public interest in number-based storytelling and unreliable government data as major setbacks. “The 2006 census is a good example. Many Nigerians are now using estimated figures in their research, which weakens data accuracy,” he lamented.
He said one of DATAPHYTE’s key goals is to create a generation of data-conscious citizens who will demand transparency and accuracy in government data. “If the government sees that people are becoming interested in data, they’ll be more careful about the information they release,” he argued.
Highlighting the broader goal of the initiative, Ogunwale revealed that FUOYE is the sixth university visited by DATAPHYTE in the past four months. The campaign, he said, aims to promote accountability, digital storytelling, and artificial intelligence (AI) literacy across academic communities in Nigeria.
“We are partnering with institutions, mass communication experts, and students to teach how to interpret and analyze data. We’re in an age of information, and it is crucial that journalists are data-literate,” Ogunwale concluded.