The workshop, held Thursday at the Arthur Mbanefo Digital Research Centre of the University of Lagos, is part of an urban reporting project supported by the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC).

Speaking at the event, DevReporting Team Lead, Mojeed Alabi, said the relationship between journalists and researchers has often been strained, with both sides sometimes viewing each other as ego-driven.

Mr Alabi said the disconnect had limited journalists’ access to credible research evidence while also denying researchers the wider public platform journalism provides.

He recalled a 2023 engagement in Tanzania where similar concerns were raised about the divide between researchers and journalists, stressing that development required deliberate collaboration.

According to Mr Alabi, action research can only translate into meaningful change when journalists and researchers work together.

“The currency spent on action research for development journalism is collaboration, and that is what has made this initiative possible,” he said.

Media partnership essential for inclusive city development

The Director of Uptake of ACRC, Ismail Ibraheem, a professor, said the consortium worked across African cities to understand how urban systems functioned and how they influenced development outcomes.

According to him, ACRC research examines the interconnected systems that determine how cities operate.

“We cannot understand how the city works without understanding its configuration in terms of government, transportation, education, health and other sectors,” Mr Ibraheem stated.

According to him, ACRC research across cities, including Lagos, shows that meaningful development depends on factors such as elite commitment, reform coalitions, organised communities and strong state capacity.

He emphasised that the media played a critical role in driving elite accountability and ensuring that research findings translated to public action.

Similarly, ACRC Lagos City Manager, Temilade Sesan, also stressed the need for stronger collaboration between journalists and researchers, noting that both groups shared a common goal of improving the lives of people in marginalised communities.

She recounted how a chance meeting with an editor and resource person, Ogechi Ekeanyanwu, at an airport helped amplify her research work and brought greater attention to the communities affected by the issues she studied.

According to Mrs Sesan, the experience demonstrated how partnerships between researchers and journalists can catalyse social change.

In a goodwill message delivered virtually, ACRC Communications and Impact Manager, Chris Jordan, said marginalised African communities needed the media now more than ever.

He urged journalists to focus on human-centred stories that highlight the realities of people living in underserved areas.

Mr Jordan added that journalists had unique access to communities and could translate research insights into compelling narratives that reached the public more effectively than academic publications.

“We have always seen our relationship with the media as crucial. The media does it better than we can do it ourselves. You can access insights from people and give engaging stories to the public and communities. We look forward to seeing what you journalists produce on this project and see how we can utilise it,” Mr Jordan said.

Insights from ACRC action researches

During the workshop, Leverhulme Professor of Planning and Heritage at the University of Liverpool, Taibat Lawanson, presented findings from the foundation phase of the ACRC project, which began in 2022.

She explained that researchers examined nine major systems that determine how cities function. These include water supply, sanitation, transportation, health, education and energy, alongside food distribution, finance and digital connectivity.

Mrs Lawanson said the research found significant gaps in access to essential services, particularly for residents living in informal settlements.

According to her, proximity to formal systems often determine access to essential services, leaving many urban residents underserved.

She noted that although the Lagos State Government provided about 40 per cent of the state’s daily water supply capacity, only about 30 per cent of residents at that moment had access to public water systems, highlighting major infrastructure and governance challenges.

Critical urban challenges such as water supply, sanitation and waste management also featured prominently during the workshop, with researchers presenting findings from community-based projects in Lagos.

Presenting ACRC’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) action research project, Co-lead of the WASH Project, Oluwaseun Muraina, said the initiative focused on improving access to clean water and sanitation in Okerube, one of the largest informal settlements in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Ms Muraina explained that the project adopted a community and gender-led approach that placed women at the centre of governance and decision-making on water and sanitation infrastructure.

According to her, the project integrates governance reforms, gender inclusion and community participation to create sustainable solutions.

She noted that women-led water committees had obtained the commitment of the local ward councillor, leading to the transfer of two boreholes to the committee for management, however, provisions were not made for proper management, hence, limiting sustainability.

On his part, the Team Lead for ACRC’s Waste Management project, Deji Akinpelu, shared the waste management challenges. He said poor waste disposal practices are closely linked to recurring flooding in several parts of the state.

He explained that when waste collection systems failed, residents often dump refuse in nearby canals and drainage channels, blocking waterways and increasing the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall.

Telling compelling stories, communicating research for impact

Veteran broadcaster and Co-Chair of the Pro-Poor Development Media Network, Bimbo Oloyede, urged journalists to produce stories that not only inform the public but also drive action.

She advised journalists to focus on clarity, connection and memorable storytelling while highlighting the human impact of urban problems.

According to her, development reporting should make complex issues relatable and motivate stakeholders to respond.

“There’s no point sharing your story and no one does anything about it. You must write in a way that people understand and are willing to do something about it,” Mrs Oloyede said.

“Urban areas have big issues. Sometimes, the problems can be overwhelming, so we can micro the macro in our reports. Zoom in on who is affected, what the citizens can do, and who is responsible,” she added.

The Commissioning Editor of The Conversation Africa, Wale Fatade, noted that many research studies conducted in Nigeria remained underutilised because researchers often struggled to communicate their findings beyond academic circles.

He encouraged journalists to convert research outputs into formats such as news analysis, features, question-and-answer pieces and podcasts. He also urged journalists to avoid jargon, acronyms and overly technical language, advising them instead to explain complex ideas in clear and simple terms that ordinary readers can understand.

“You should focus on the key story behind the research, apply the basic principles of the five W’s and H, and explain complex ideas in a way that can be understood by a general audience,” Mr Fatade said.

From field to workshop

Senior journalists at the workshop also shared their field experiences reporting urban challenges.

A Correspondent for Thomson Reuters Foundation, who is a mentor on the project, Bukola Adebayo, addressed the challenge of rehashed narratives, particularly around demolitions and evictions. She advocated multimedia storytelling, following a single family, documenting a day in their life through video and photography, to create a visceral connection with audiences.

“Photography is extremely important. Multimedia speaks to the audience more than text ever can,” she stressed.

Similarly, the Weekend Editor, Guardian Newspaper, who is also a mentor on the project, Kabir Garba, cautioned against the use of outdated, recycled data, urging reporters to investigate why data remained static.

“If you are reporting on out-of-school children, don’t just give me the numbers. Ask why those numbers haven’t changed in ten years. Ask what is being done, who is blocking progress, and what accountability looks like.”

The Regional Coordinator, Sub-Saharan Africa of SciDev.Net, Ogechi Ekeanyanwu, urged journalists to engage researchers directly, ask critical questions and prioritise human-interest angles in their coverage of development issues.

Drawing on decades of experience, the Managing Editor of Guardian Newspaper, Chinedum Uwaegbulam, took participants on stakeholder mapping. Using the Lagos context as a case study, he illustrated how a simple story like “Flood hits Lekki” can be transformed into an investigative piece by using a map to ask questions such as: Which institutions failed? Who approved the development? Who ignored the early warnings? Who funded it? Who benefited? Who suffered?

Initiative provides story support to journalists

The collaboration between DevReporting, the Pro-Poor Development Media (PDM) Network and the African Cities Research Consortium is expected to generate impactful stories that draw attention to urban challenges and encourage policy action.

Mr Alabi stated that the journalists had four weeks to deliver impactful reports, with mentorship, editorial and research support provided under the project. He urged them to reach out to the researchers or the DevReporting project management for additional support that would help them deliver adequately.

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Author: Remmy Nweke

Publisher: DitalSense Africa Book

Pages: 71

Reviewer: Gbenga Sesan

Today, (Thursday, June 19, 2025) I have the honour of reviewing The Village Priest by Remmy Nweke —a powerful narrative that weaves together history, tradition, resistance, reconciliation, and innovation, set within the verdant hills of Ilimefo, a village nestled in the heart of Igboland, where “the air was alive with the whispers of ancestors and the rhythms of tradition.”

At the heart of this story is Ogboo AniEze, the revered traditional chief priest of Ilimefo. His life is “dedicated to the preservation and celebration of Ilimefo’s customs and traditions.” The book opens with a clear and symbolic statement of context: “The village and its people, their traditional practices and strong cultural heritage at the crossroads!” This sets the tone for what is not just a fictional tale but a textured documentation of a people’s encounter with time and change.

Ilimefo is introduced to us as a place where “tradition was woven into the very fabric of life,” with festivals like Onwu-ano linked to agricultural cycles and the rhythms of the earth. The rituals, we learn, are not arbitrary. They are “intricately woven” into the identity and continuity of the people. Ogboo AniEze does not merely perform these rituals—he embodies them. “His eyes, clouded with the wisdom of age, seemed to hold the secrets of the past,” and his voice “could calm the most troubled of minds.”

We are told, in great detail, about the structure and discipline of his priesthood: lieutenants from six villages, each with precise roles. Some “raise a cup of water,” others “kill the offerings,” while others “prepare the offerings when cooked.” The sacred rhythm of Ilimefo is grounded in Igbo cosmology, with rituals observed “every Eke market day,” that is, every five days.

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As a young boy, Ogboo AniEze apprenticed under his grandfather, “a renowned traditional priest.” His education was both spiritual and practical—“the sacred languages,” “traditional healing practices,” and also “farming, hunting, and craftsmanship.” Through sacred journeys to forests, rivers, and mountains, “a deep connection to the natural world and the spirits that inhabited it” was forged.

One of the cultural pillars explored in the book is masquerading—a practice that carries symbolic, spiritual, and social weight. The masks “represent ancestral spirits, mythological creatures, and symbolic figures.” During festivals, “masked performers danced and sang,” their performances serving both as entertainment and as “social commentary, addressing issues and concerns.”

Yet, as the wind of change began to blow, Ogboo AniEze “encountered modernizing influences such as Christianity and western education,” which “challenged his traditionalist views.” Criticism followed—some said his values were “outdated and restrictive,” accusing him of “lack of adaptability,” and being “disconnected from the modern reality.” But for Ogboo, his visions, his ancestral worship, and his connection to “sacred journeys” remained a steadfast compass.

The villagers, meanwhile, expected him to do more than perform rituals. They expected him to provide “spiritual guidance, interpreting the will of the gods and ancestors,” “offering counseling and mediation,” and even guidance on agriculture and healing. He became “a respected and beloved figure,” not because he resisted change, but because he “found creative ways to balance the two.”

But change came fast and hard with the arrival of GSM—“a strange and mysterious piece of technology.” Introduced by “a group of outsiders, including a Catholic priest, Fada Ekie,” mobile phones arrived in Ilimefo, bringing with them “a stir among the villagers.” At first, the villagers were “fascinated and intimidated,” unsure how to engage with “small and sleek” devices that brought “the hum of signals and the chatter of voices.”

This is where the book truly grapples with its core tension. For Ogboo AniEze, GSM was both opportunity and threat. It “distracted them from their traditional practices” and “threatened to erode the cultural heritage of Ilimefo.” And when his own son, Okorie, embraced the technology, seeing “economic prospects” and “new possibilities,” the crisis became deeply personal.

Ogboo AniEze was “torn between his love and pride for his son and his concern for the impact of the technology.” He feared GSM would “lead to the erosion of the village’s cultural heritage” and cause a “brain drain” as young people “leave the village in search of better opportunities.” He also feared “isolation from the community” and began to “question his own faith and the traditions he had sworn to uphold.”

This led to the turning point. In the hills, he embarked on “dry fasting for a whole four market days.” He returned from that solitary experience with “a new found understanding.” He saw that GSM, though disruptive, “also offered opportunities for growth, development, and connection with the wider world.” He reconciled with Okorie. He apologized to the villagers. He even welcomed the presence of Fada Ekie, the Catholic priest.

What follows is a new era of harmony, where “tradition and modernity coexisted in balance.” Ogboo AniEze began to use mobile phones to “coordinate traditional ceremonies and rituals,” to “document the village’s traditions,” and to “connect with villagers in the diaspora.” The GSM technology, initially feared, became “a powerful tool for preserving the village’s cultural heritage.”

The Village Priest is a careful work of cultural documentation, offering not just a story but a chronicle—a record of transition that many rural and even urban African communities continue to live through.

Through collaboration with Fada Ekie, Ilimefo experiences what the book calls a “fusion of traditions”—traditional prayers “incorporated into Catholic ceremonies,” Catholic teachings “infused with indigenous spiritual practices,” and “ancestor veneration blended with the tradition of honoring saints.” The result is “a new spiritual identity,” where “community healing practices” are made stronger through cooperation, and where “interfaith collaboration” becomes a working model for other communities.

Even as GSM introduced new social behaviours—such as Facebook Live streaming of village festivals, or parishioners charging phones during Mass—there is no ridicule or mockery. Instead, Remmy Nweke allows the reader to witness cultural evolution with empathy and respect.

In the Epilogue, we find Ogboo AniEze and Fada Ekie standing together, “looking out at the vibrant scene.” Their story is one of convergence, of two paths that once seemed to diverge, now blending into one shared future. As “the village erupted in joyous cheers,” they “clasped hands,” symbolizing a unity forged through respect, dialogue, and vision.

Let me end where the book ends—on a note of blessing and pride. At the close of the novel, as the village celebrates this new era, Ogboo AniEze declares it “Oyibo Day” and rolls out the drums—not to erase his past, but to embrace a future that includes both Okorie’s device and his own divination, both digital and divine.

The Village Priest is a careful work of cultural documentation, offering not just a story but a chronicle—a record of transition that many rural and even urban African communities continue to live through. It teaches us, without preaching, that true innovation is not in abandoning our roots, but in strengthening them with new tools.

*Sesan is the Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative. He reviewed the book at the 2025 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet Governance for Development and book presentation held on Thursday, June 19, 2025 at Welcome Centre Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos.

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The event will hold at the prestigious Welcome Centre Hotels, MM International Airport Road, Lagos.

The Village Priest is the latest book by Nweke.

According to the author, who also is the Lead Consulting Strategist, DigitalSENSE Africa and Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, this year’s Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet Governance for Development, IG4D, series comes with the theme ‘Global Digital Compact: Opportunities for Multi-stakeholders in Nigeria.’

The Village Priest, Nweke said, is a prose fiction on innovative technology adaptation transforming rural communities.

This 2025 edition of Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum, he affirmed, would be presided by the former president, Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria and Principal Consultant, Kontemporary Konsulting Ltd, Jimson Olufuye, who is currently, serving as a member, UN Secretary-General’s IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG).

The Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum series is organised by ITREALMS Media and hosted under DigitalSENSE Africa, DSA, an At-Large Structure certified by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, ICANN, in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, Internet Society Nigeria chapter, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, ICANN, among others.

NDSF series, he said, since 2009 motivated public discourse and created awareness on the technological cum business benefits of rapidly advancing technologies capable of impacting on Internet Governance, Internet Protocol, IP, addresses and domain name industry, access and affordability, their effects on current state of the eco-system as well as offering a first-class platform for industry networking.

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He pointed out that “Gbenga Sesan is a renowned social entrepreneur and Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, promoting digital rights and inclusion in Africa, especially connecting underserved young Africans with digital opportunities and protecting their online rights. With experience spanning over 27 African countries, PIN under his leadership promotes a rights-respecting continent through sub-regional offices.

“With a strong background in Electronic and Electrical Engineering and executive education from top universities, he has influenced technology policies globally.

“Gbenga’s journey into technology and social entrepreneurship began with a foundation in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University. He has since attended executive education programs at esteemed institutions like Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford.

“His expertise has earned him recognition, including being appointed as a member, UN Secretary-General’s Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Leadership Panel; Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year; Advisor to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Economic Forum; Induction into DigitalSENSEAfrica Hall of Fame and awardee as IG4D Youth Influencer of the decade, among others.”

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The Lead Consulting Strategist, DigitalSENSE Africa and Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media, Sir Remmy Nweke, said that this year’s edition marks the 15th edition of Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on IG4D series on the theme “IG4D: Innovative Digital Economy & Safer Civic Space in Nigeria.”

The Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda, Mr. Edetaen Ojo will be presiding.

He also said that the Chief Executive Officer, Digital Realty Nigeria, Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, would be the special guest speaker, while a number of speakers faculty would join him to discuss the theme for this year.

Nweke listed some of the seasoned industry experts in the speakers faculty to include the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo; Chief Executive Officer, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) Mr. Muhammed Rudman; Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, Mr. Gbenga Sesan and the Data Protection Officer at Upperlink Limited, Ms Francisca Iloezumma.

He recalled that in 2009, the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum, NDSF, series on Internet Governance for Development made a debut at the Golden Gate Restaurant Ikoyi-Lagos and ever since, has remained firm in rallying stakeholders to take discourse on Internet access, openness, affordability, connectivity and ICT infrastructure among others.

“We are set for the 2024 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum,” he declared, stressing that at 15th edition, it’s time for recognition of corporates and individuals for their contributions in deepening Internet penetration, improving access, affordability, technological adaptation that bring forth digital sense in Nigeria.”

NDSF series on IG4D, powered by ITREALMS Media group is hosted by DigitalSENSE Africa, an At-Large Structure (ALS) certified by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), in collaboration with relevant stakeholders including Internet Society (ISOC), Nigeria chapter, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Digital Realty Nigeria, NNPC Limited, NLNG, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, IXPN, to name but a few.

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The event is slated for Thursday, June 27 by 10 a.m. at the prestigious Welcome Centre Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos.

Confirming this in Lagos, the Lead Consulting Strategist, DigitalSENSE Africa, a project of ITREALMS Media group, Sir Remmy Nweke, said that they would be speaking at the panel session on ‘Stakeholders role in innovative digital economy and safer civic space in Nigeria’ by sharing their respective representation perspectives.

He also said that the 2024 edition of the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Africa forum on Internet Governance for Development, IG4D, overarching theme is ‘IG4D: Innovative Digital Economy and Safer Civic Space in Nigeria’ would be presided over by the Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda, Mr. Edetaen Ojo.

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Nweke outlined that Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, is the chairman, Association of Telecommunications Licensed Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, Mr. Muhammed Rudman is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), Mr. Gbenga Sesan is an accomplished social entrepreneur and Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative International while Ms Francisca Iloezumma is the Data Protection Officer at the only Nigeria-based Domain Name Registrar accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, ICANN, the Upperlink Limited.

This panel session, he revealed, is supported by the Domain Name System Women in Nigeria (DNS WomenNG) led by Mrs. Nkem Nweke, a former member of the Executive Board of Nigeria Internet Registration Association, NIRA, managers of the .NG country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD).

The Lead Consulting Strategist at DigitalSENSE Africa, recollected that the Managing Director of Digital Realty Nigeria, Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, had been confirmed a special guest speaker.

He equally said that 2024 marked the 15th year of activism by DigitalSENSE Africa and some notable industry role models and corporate organisations have been lined-up for recognition.

Recall that the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum, NDSF, series on Internet Governance for Development made a debut in 2009 and has remained a rallying point for Internet stakeholders and eco-system in the country.

NDSF series on IG4D powered by ITREALMS Media group is hosted by DigitalSENSE Africa, an At-Large Structure, ALS, certified by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, ICANN, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders including Internet Society, ISOC, Nigeria chapter, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, IXPN, Digital Realty Nigeria, to name but a few.

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