The Executive Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS), Sir Okon Okon, has tasked journalists in the state on the need to expose themselves to the fundamentals of finance reporting which constitutes delicates figures.The Executive Chairman was speaking recently as a guest at a one-day seminar organised by The Dune Newspapers, in collaboration with Unity Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, held at NUJ Press Centre, Uyo.Speaking on the theme of the seminar -“Beyond the figures”, Okon Okon emphasized the increasing importance of understanding the fundamentals of finance reporting and analysis.He said with the abundance of financial data within the government circle, journalists must equip themselves with the necessary knowledge to accurately report economic and financial matters.“The complete understanding of the economic and finance figures and how to relate with those figures, especially as a non finance expert, is very important because the figures themselves are very delicate”, Okon said.Journalists from various media organizations, including radio, television, and multimedia platforms, as well as information officers from finance-related ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in Akwa Ibom State attended the seminar.Earlier in his welcome address, Comrade Abasifreke Effiong, the training facilitator and Managing Editor of the Dune Newspaper, explained that the seminar was part of Unity Chapel’s ongoing commitment to capacity-building programs for journalists in the state.Effiong said the event marked the second in a series of educational initiatives organized by Unity Chapel within the past two months.“We identified a few areas we considered pertinent to build capacity on. They cut across energy transition and renewable energy, economy and finance, aviation, public health and safety.“We are here today because we identified the need to familiarise our colleagues who are desiring to build specialisation in public finance reporting with the gamut of economics and finance nuances and ethics of reporting the sector.“Exposing reporters to basic knowledge of finance with the aim of improving their reporting skills can enhance their understanding of how to appraise finance data, mindful of their delicateness.“The theme of this event “Beyond the figures” seeks to emphasise the need to ask questions beyond reporting the figures.“Fiscal reforms by the immediate past administration in our state have caused an increase in the tonnes of finance data the state government puts out to the public – this has opened a vista for journalists to seek to build specialisation in finance reporting”.Speakers at the seminar included the representative of Prof Ntiedo Umoren, the Executive Co-Chairman of the Akpan Hogan Ekpo Centre for Public Policy at the University of Uyo, who delivered a comprehensive presentation on “Basic Concepts in Economics and Finance: A Guide for Journalists”.Mr Myke Etefia, a renowned chartered tax consultant and the Managing Director and CEO of Myke Etefia and Co, addressed the misconceptions surrounding state and local government taxes and multiple taxation.Similarly, Mr Cletus Ukpong, an award-winning investigative reporter and the Regional Editor of Premium Times overseeing the South-South/South-East regions, provided valuable insights on “Rudiments of Specialized Reporting”, while Mr Ubokudom Etuk, a tax professional and teacher, delved into the topic of “Public Finance Data Analysis: Principles, Methods, and Ethics”.Mr Kufre Etuk, the Editor-in-Chief of The Crest newspaper, and Mr Benjamin Jimmy, a journalist, in an interview with our correspondent shortly after the seminar, said the programme has equipped them with the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively report on matters of public finance.Prominent politicians in Akwa Ibom State, including the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Linus Nkan, and the Accountant General of the State, Pastor Uwem Andrew-Essien, have expressed their appreciation to Unity Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) for organizing a seminar on public finance reporting.