Forty journalists drawn from various media organisations from across Kaduna State, were trained by the Kaduna State Peace Commission on Conflict Early Warning, Early Response and Conflict Sensitive Reporting System ( CEWERS).
Speaking at the one day workshop,the Executive Vice Chairman of the Kaduna State Peace Commission,Dr. Saleh Momale said the workshop was aimed at, among others, to enhance peace and stability in Kaduna State through peace and development journalism.
“The engagement would bring about a better level of cooperative management of resources through reporting that is conflict sensitive.This would also encourage the people of Kaduna state to utilise early warning and early response facilities put in place by the Kaduna State Peace Commission in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programs (UNDP) and UN agencies,” he said.
According to him, the training which was in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, would help security agencies and a wide range of stakeholders to manage all threats to peaceful coexistence in the state.
“We are happy that all the media practitioners we have, have been exchanging views and additional awareness in the engagement, we are hoping for a friendlier environment and working relationship between the media and the Kaduna State Peace Commission so that we would have more positive reporting, conflict sensitive reporting and citizens increase utilisation that exists between Kaduna Peace Commission and CSos in the state”, he said.
Kaduna state, he said, has been challenged by insecurity including periodic ethno-religious conflict ,disputes between herders and farmers as well as high intensity of banditry in some parts of the state.
“The Peace Commission will continue to work with various stakeholders in addressing the situation.We all know the importance of information and media reportage in providing accurate and reliable information to the citizens in assisting and mobilising ,creating the needed awareness in promoting peaceful and harmonious relationships ,“he said.
A Permanent Commissioner at the Kaduna Peace Commission, Rebecca Sako during her presentation on the overview of Conflict Early Warning Early Response Systems ( CEWERS), said that Kaduna state was developing a strategic plan to strengthen peaceful relationships in some crisis areas in the state.
“The training will help to strengthen media capacity and change their perspective to promote peace and security across the state,” she said.
According to Sako, one of the training objectives was to strengthen the capacity of journalists in Kaduna State to understand and appreciate the need for their reports and commentaries to facilitate the promotion of peace and social cohesion.
The Zonal Director of National Broadcasting Corporation(NBC) in Kaduna,Jamilu Yahaya Jega in his presentation on Conflict Resolution, Workings, Letters and Spirits of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code,urged media practitioners to always imbibe the guiding principle of balance of the broadcast code in other to promote peace and economic development in Nigeria.
Journalists, he counselled, should be mindful of what they report and to always adhere to the principle of balance and inclusiveness.
He said among others, that journalists should be agents of society through which balanced information is shared by sourcing information from all quarters including those with opposing views.
Samson Auta of the Interfaith Mediation Centre and Chairman of Community Initiative to Promote Peace (CIPP) said the training sought to reduce key drivers of violence and would be an avenue for equipping the participants with skills of communication and how to manage any given situation.
He harped on the need for journalists to de- emphasize promoting divisive tendencies that might not augur well for harmonious relationships among the diverse people in the state.
NNN
0 Comments