Orodata Science, in partnership with the Africa Data Hub, successfully concluded a three-month intensive training programme aimed at strengthening the health desks of ten selected newsrooms across Nigeria.
The initiative culminated in a hybrid close-out event on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at the Four Points Hotel in Lagos, featuring a deep dive into data-driven journalism and the official launch of the 2024/2025 PHC Energy Report.
The training, delivered by seasoned media professionals, covered essential modules including data journalism, fact-checking, visualisation, and solutions journalism, designed to transform how participants approach complex health and development stories.
In his opening remarks, Mr. John Eromosele, Country Operations Lead at Orodata Science, emphasized the newsroom’s pivotal role as a hub for driving narratives and telling compelling, people-centred stories.
Eromosele highlighted the broader impact of the Africa Data Hub across West, East, and Southern Africa, noting its support for health desks through story grants and crucial data resources.
He addressed the persistent challenge of accessing primary datasets, explaining that the recently concluded six-week online intensive training was meticulously designed to bridge this crucial gap.
Referencing the organization’s proprietary CheckMyPHC portal, which has mapped over 1,500 primary healthcare centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, he said:
“There are a lot of untold stories behind the data.”
The ultimate goal, he noted, is to equip journalists with the skills to create simple, impactful visualisations that elevate their reporting.
In his specialized training session, Eromosele facilitated modules on Fundamentals of Data Analysis using spreadsheets, Data scraping from repositories, Introduction to Flourish, and Introduction to Datawrapper.
He stressed that data visualisation is no longer optional in modern journalism; it simplifies complex information, builds audience trust, and enhances credibility.
He lauded Flourish as a “journalist-first tool” for its ease of use and embeddable templates, widely adopted in global newsrooms.
Participants were also introduced to Canva for creating social-first infographics and static visuals.
Eromosele concluded his session with a powerful reminder:
“Flourish, Datawrapper, Canva, etc., are just means. Always remember that the story is the real power. You are not just reporters; you are storytellers and catalysts for change.”
The close-out event concluded with the launch of the landmark report, ‘Grid Ghost Towns: Elevating Power Across Nigeria’s Primary Health Centres.’
The report exposes the deepening energy crisis across Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in six states: Osun, Anambra, Taraba, Sokoto, Cross River, and Benue.
Key findings include:
Unreliable Grid Supply: PHCs are crippled by inconsistent power access.
Soaring Costs: Rising diesel costs and electricity tariffs are undermining healthcare delivery.
Service Limitation: Dependence on expensive backup power strains state budgets and severely limits critical medical services.
With the national grid output hovering between 3,500 and 4,500 MW for a population of over 220 million, the report issues a warning: tailored state-level reforms and increased investment in decentralized renewable energy are essential steps to strengthen Nigeria’s critical PHC systems and prevent these vital health centers from becoming literal “Grid Ghost Towns.”
