Opportunities and Challenges of Energy Journalism Practice in Lagos

Anchored in structural-functionalism theory, this study investigates the opportunities and challenges shaping the practice of energy journalism in Lagos, Nigeria. Using purposive and convenience sampling, this study recruited participants from BusinessDay, Vanguard, Punch, and Guardian through a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews. A thematic analysis will be adopted to extract insights from the interview. Findings show that the energy journalism sector is associated with opportunities such as policy reforms, digital attention, specialised training, funding and partnerships, agenda setting and digitalisation. However, the practice faces several challenges, including poor remuneration, limited training, insufficient investigative funding, unreliable data, and job security. The findings of this study highlight the need for improved institutional support, specialised training, and greater transparency in energy-sector data to strengthen energy journalism in Nigeria.