Our Reporter
The Department of Mass Communication, Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu, has partnered with Dataphyte Academy to equip 300-level students with essential skills in data journalism.
The intensive two-day training, held on recently at the university’s ICT Centre, provided students of the department with both theoretical foundations and practical skills in data-driven storytelling, infographics, and data visualization.
The HoD, Dr Zannu Prosper mentioned that the programme was initiated in response to the rising demand for data-literate journalists in the evolving global media landscape.
Mr. Kehinde Ogunyale, who represented Dataphyte Academy as the lead facilitator, underscored the increasing importance of data skills for journalists and media professionals. He emphasised the need for future media practitioners to master data interpretation, pattern identification, and the visual presentation of complex information to meet the demands of modern journalism.
Also commenting on this perspective, the course lecturer, Dr. Steve Anu’ Adesemoye, highlighted the transformative power of these skills. “Learning infographics and data visualization in Nigeria is not just a technical skill, it is a power multiplier. It equips you to make sense of chaos, influence decisions, advance your career, and contribute to national development in an increasingly data-driven world. Whether you are a student, entrepreneur, civil servant, or professional, these skills help you move from ‘we have data’ to ‘we know what to do with it’.” He concluded.
The largely successful training saw participants introduced to the fundamentals of data visualization and the strategic use of infographics to transform complex datasets into compelling, accessible stories. It also featured hands-on practical exercises covering the full data journalism workflow: sourcing, verification, cleaning, analysis, and visualization using real-world datasets.
At the closing ceremony, the department presented an Award of Excellence to Dataphyte.
