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A media-based NGO presents a data-driven app for validation.
By Faith Kordoo
The Media Awareness and Justice Initiative (MAJI), an NGO that focuses on media training to ensure qualitative environmental reportage, has presented its DataCab Mobile Application for validation and reviews.
The app, which was earlier launched on February 1, 2024, is accessible via iOS and Android devices and is aimed at enabling journalists to tell stories about environmental incidents in Rivers State and the Niger Delta at large.
Speaking at the validation session on Thursday, February 29, 2024, the Executive Coordinator of the Port Harcourt-based NGO, Okoro, Onyekachi Emmanuel, gave further insight into the function of the app.
“First of all, the app identifies the number of spills in Rivers State. It simplifies it in such a way that users of that app can identify locations within the app where these spills are occurring.
“The app also identifies air quality in different forms and in different locations, using devices that we have deployed in these communities.
He added that the app aims to inform the general public on how much pollution has affected different communities within the Delta.”.
Emmanuel also identified the target audience for the app, grouping them into primary and secondary groups.
“This app is targeted at two targets: one primary target and one secondary target.
Our primary targets are the newsrooms, journalists, researchers, CSOs, and CBOs working in the Delta.
“Our secondary targets are the public users. People in the public space sit down, read the news, and also engage with news reports throughout the day.
We believe that a combination of these two target groups will overall improve the efficiency of the app, improve the usability of the app, and ensure that enough people will be able to have access to quality data stories that can inform policies, inform advocacy campaigns, and overall effect the way government deals with these issues going forward,” he opined.
On the purpose of the validation session, the MAJI coordinator explained that “as a progressive organization, we intend that our technical outputs are reviewed by our target audience, and our primary target audience is journalists, CSOs, and community-based organizations (CBOs).
“We believe that their review of this app will further improve the efficiency of the app, improve the overall usability of the app, and ensure that the app attains the professional standard that we want it to attain.”.
He also confirmed that the project is funded by the US Consulate in Nigeria, with the backing of the current US Consul General of Nigeria, Will Stevens.
