NEDC Trains 71 Journalists on Conflict Sensitive Reporting
The North-East Development Commission (NEDC), has trained no fewer than 71 journalists from the six states of the North-East Nigeria on Conflict Sensitive Reporting.
The workshop held at the Dujima International Hotel,Wulari, Maiduguri, Borno State on fourth to seventh December 2022 had in attendance electronic, broadcast and online journalists covering Gombe, Adamawa, Borno,Yobe, Bauchi and Taraba states.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NEDC, Mohammed Alkali Goni, in an address of welcome said NEDC invited the journalists to see that peace is being restored in Borno state and to develop their skills on how to write conflict sensitive reports.
“If I had asked you to come to Maiduguri two years ago, none of you would have come, but today we are all here in Wulari which used to be a no go area, but we thank God it is now becoming history,”
Goni who described the media as value chain appreciated the hundred percent attendance of participants.
Goni added, “What we have here is the media in the value chain from reporters to executives of various media organizations. Journalists are critical to us. We may spend the whole day talking, the people will not until they hear from the media.”
The chairman Governing Board of NEDC, Major General Paul Tarfa (red.), said two years ago coming to Maiduguri was not safe but today there is security hence, the invitation to come to Borno state.
He appreciated the Federal Government for setting up the NEDC which had aided the gradual return of peace to the region as victims of insurgency are settling gradually and returning to their normal lives.
Tarfa, lauded journalists for publicising activities of the commission and for working together to achieve the purpose of it establishment.
The representative of the minister of humanitarian and disaster management Group Captain Sadig Shehu hoped for a fruitful engagement that would be beneficial to mankind.
The Deputy National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Comrade Alhassan Yahya, appreciated the NEDC for the training and solicited for more of such to create visibility for the commission and sensitise the public of it activities.
Yahya advised that the training be rotational so as to cover the entire North-East states.
The Director Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan Dr. Nathaniel Danjibo, who was one of the resource persons at the workshop dwelled on the topic “Conflict Sensitive Reporting: Applying the do no Harm Principle”.
He said the media has the obligation to report only what is morally right, objective and truthful and that it set agenda for a prospective outcome and that in terms of conflict the outcome can either be peace or war.
Danjibo said, “reporting conflicts as journalists should do no harm by dousing tension and not escalating it. Peace journalism reports the truths and facts differently.”
The Resource Person urged participants to always exercise professional ethics of accuracy, veracity, fairness and respect for human rights and dignity.
The Vice Chancellor, of the Federal University Kashere, Gombe State. Professor Umaru Pate, who was also a Resource Person, spoke on the topic “conflict sensitive reporting from humanitarian dimension” said media can contribute to the escalation of conflict based on what they say and how they said it.
He advised journalists to be up to date and digitally literate to move with the wind of change in the profession.
Some of the participants interviewed include; Hajara Aliyu of the Channels TV Bauchi, Mohammed Abubakar Daily Independent Yobe State and Saidu Bappah Malala of Jewel News Gombe state described the workshop as enlightening and an eye opener to some mistakes made in reporting conflict.
“The workshop was an eye-opener to some of the errors in conflict reporting. We were reminded of our responsibilities as journalists in ensuring that society is peaceful through our reportage. The brainstorming session with colleagues was particularly engaging where journalists debated on the blunders in reporting and how to approach issues professionally,” Hajara Aliyu said.
“The North-East Development Commission has been making progress in the rebuilding processes as seen in some of the projects in Maiduguri and other parts of the North-East, no doubt they understand the extent of damage that can occur in violent conflict situations and that’s why journalists must play a key role in ensuring that conflicts are avoided and managed, so the workshop is apt. On the sidelines, the workshop expanded my professional network; I met new people, learned new things and shared ideas about quite a number of topics,” Aliyu added.
“The training was fantastic in the sense that it has built my capacity in the area of being sensitive in reporting conflicts in the Northeast and beyond. My reports now would be directed towards promoting peace devoid of triggering violence with sensational headlines. The resource persons have taken us through topics of importance in line with the modern trends of practice,’’ According to Abubakar.
Malala said, “The workshop is timely and apt. I have learnt to report facts but differently. I have learnt to avoid the use of some terms and languages that could trigger conflict and tension. I have learnt to be conflict sensitive in our reportage. I have learnt to douse tension while writing my reports.”
The participants added that their visit to Maiduguri allayed the fears and doubts that the state was a no go area.
“Sincerely I panicked when I got the invitation to travel to dreaded Maiduguri for the NEDC training, but to my surprise when I entered Maiduguri, I saw beehive of social and economic stimulus, people were all over conducting their normal businesses. Since the day I arrived, stayed and left, I haven’t heard any sound of gunshot nor explosion. This symbolise the return of peace in the area. Cases of attacks and kidnap is gradually becoming history, ”Abubakar added.
“Not so much. I already learned beforehand that the state has been relatively peaceful for some time now and it was quite an experience to witness the peace firsthand,” Aliyu explained.
” I came to Maiduguri with mixed feelings. Most people I told I was travelling expressed fears that I may not safe because I am going to danger zone. But here we are safe in Wulari we even went out on a sight-seeing to some prominent places in Maiduguri and returned to our hotel safely and excited.” Malala said.
The three-day workshop was coordinated by a consultant Mohammed Kudu Abubakar of Ranlal Global Services Nigeria Limited in partnership and support of NEDC.
Meanwhile, latest reporting reaching Periscope Nigeria indicated that all participants arrived their destinations safely.
