Daily Trust Foundation, National Library train journalists, others on document digitisation

The Daily Trust Foundation, in partnership with the National Library of Nigeria and with funding support from the MacArthur Foundation, has trained journalists and digital marketers on document digitisation in Abuja.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Daily Trust Foundation, Malam Bilya Bala, said the training was part of the Foundation’s Media Enterprise Lab initiative designed to equip participants with emerging skills capable of opening new career frontiers.

“The project was established to broaden the scope of opportunities for journalists, as it is, by nature, meant to deepen skills in emerging fields and vocations for self-sustainability.”

He noted that in the last two years, the Foundation had trained journalists in digital marketing, film and documentary production, multimedia skills for freelance journalism, book writing and publishing, as well as non-profit media management.

According to him, document digitisation has become one of the most promising but under-explored fields in Nigeria.

“Document digitisation is still in its infancy in Nigeria. It is a fertile field for investment, as millions, if not billions, of documents in government and private sector filing cabinets are waiting to be digitised,” he said.

The National Librarian and CEO of the National Library of Nigeria, Professor Chinwe Veronica Anunobi, described the initiative as a forward-looking contribution to the future of journalism.

She said technological advancement, including the rise of artificial intelligence, has altered how information is created, preserved and accessed, warning that media professionals who fail to adapt risk becoming obsolete.

She noted that digitisation offers journalists and information managers fresh relevance both during active service and at retirement.

“Digitisation became the most feasible method of not only sharing information, but ensuring that documents are handy, safe, and available for posterity.”

She urged participants to be mindful of copyright and Creative Commons licensing principles as they build competence.

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