Ghana’s celebrated undercover journalist and lawyer, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has been honoured by the North Eastern University (NEU) at Gombe, Nigeria, in a grand ceremony.
The university has named its newly built ultramodern multimedia studio after Anas.
The Anas Aremeyaw Anas Multimedia Studio is a cutting-edge facility that seamlessly blends creativity and technology.
It features advanced audio and video production zones with professional recording equipment, cameras, and green screens, with its graphics, animation, and photography sections equipped with high-performance computers and DSLR setups.
The live streaming and virtual reality labs enable immersive content creation, while motion graphics tools incorporate motion capture technology for digital storytelling. Storage and backup solutions ensure data security, and ergonomic workspaces provide comfort, making the studio a hub for multimedia innovation in Gombe.
Anas, who attended a day’s International Conference on Trends in Investigative Journalism in Northern Nigeria, jointly organised by WikkiTimes, NEU, and the Tiger Eye Foundation, Ghana, has seen his groundbreaking investigative works earn him global acclaim.
He joined a host of professors and vice-chancellors to inaugurate the facility. He described the honour as a great step towards inspiring a new generation of fearless journalists.
“I hope to see, in the coming years, courageous journalists whose work will stand the test of time and shine a light on corruption in our society,” Anas said.
Anas In his keynote address, said, “Journalism must serve the public good.”.
“There is no point in doing journalism if it does not benefit society. Our investigative journalism should be tailored toward uplifting communities and fostering development. If we fail to do this, then we have failed as journalists,” he said.
Speaking to aspiring journalists, Anas emphasised that while journalism is rewarding, it is also a tough profession.
“You have to psyche yourself. It’s like a heated kitchen—if you don’t have the energy to stand the heat, you get out.”
Pro-Chancellor and Founder of North-Eastern University, Gombe, Nigeria, Dr Sani Jauro, also known as Danlawal Gombe, said he was delighted to have been part of the decision to name the studio after the celebrated journalist.
“I have personally followed the great work of Anas, and when the decision was taken to name this all-important studio after him, I knew it was the beginning of great things to come. NEU is happy to name this after you for your great sacrifice to humanity,” he said.
Earlier, WikkiTimes Co-Publisher Ajibola Amzat revealed that since its debut in 2018, WikkiTimes has faced numerous challenges, including seven lawsuits, but remains steadfast in its mission to expose corruption and hold power to account.
“We founded WikkiTimes to bring about change in Northern Nigeria,” Amzat said. “Despite legal battles and threats, we continue to hold power accountable. I call on stakeholders and the academic community to support our efforts to ensure transparency and good governance.”
Haruna Mohammed, also a co-publisher of WikkiTimes, stated in an interview that the newspaper aims to train and produce Nigeria’s finest investigative journalists.
“We are committed to nurturing fearless journalists who will hold power to account and promote developmental journalism.”
Renowned media scholar Professor Umaru Pate, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Kashere, emphasised the need for a new generation of fearless journalists to confront Nigeria’s corruption crisis. He praised the naming of the studio after Anas as a significant step toward motivating students.
He highlighted corruption across various sectors, including education, agriculture, politics, and environmental exploitation, calling for collective efforts to address these issues.
“Corruption is a multifaceted problem that hinders our nation’s progress,” Pate said. “We must retrace our steps and change the way we operate if we are to overcome these challenges.”
On his part, the Dean of the School of Communication, Management, and Social Sciences at Northeastern University, Dr Hamid Adamu Mohammed, underscored the importance of investigative journalism in tackling the challenges facing Northern Nigeria.
“The North is grappling with numerous issues that require in-depth investigative reporting,” Dr Hamid said. “Most investigations focus on government corruption, but other critical areas—such as the activities of clerics and traditional institutions—remain under-reported.”
Meanwhile, editor at the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Victoria Bamas, who highlighted the need for gender mainstreaming in newsrooms, says women’s issues are often under-reported as she called for greater representation of female journalists to ensure balanced and inclusive reporting.
“Women’s voices are often marginalised in our societies,” Bamas said.
“We need to amplify these voices and strive for gender balance in newsrooms to ensure that all perspectives are represented,” she added.
The commissioning of the Anas Aremeyaw Anas Multimedia Studio marks a significant milestone in investigative journalism in Northern Nigeria, offering a cutting-edge facility to train and inspire the next generation of fearless journalists.
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