Journalists in Bauchi pledge to mitigate conflict through reportage
Story from Beatrice EARLAND, Bauchi
Journalists in Bauchi State have reiterated their commitment to promoting stories that will engender peace, unity and harmony for national development.
This was one of the key outcomes of the just concluded three (3) days intensive capacity training workshop for media practitioners and spokespersons on Conflict Sensitivity, organised by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s funded activity programme titled “State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State)”, held at Hazibal Hotel Conference Hall, Bauchi.
READ ALSO: Auto crash in Bauchi leaves 4 dead, 7 others injured
The participants also resolved to be engaging citizens on issues around governance as it affects them, especially the vulnerable members of the community that suffers most during conflicts.
This, according to the participants, will give a voice to the disadvantaged segment of the society with a view to influencing government policies and programmes that can enhance their social security and welfare.
The participants further pledged to cascade the training to other members of the media so as to share the knowledge gained during the training.
Other resolves made by the participants were: Mainstreaming gender and social inclusion as an advocacy issue in their stories, applying the “Do No Harm” principles in reporting conflict, sensitive stories and paying more attention to the context in stories before filing reports.
Some of the participants, who spoke to Neptune Prime correspondence, expressed their commendations to the USAID State2State Activity for their foresight in organising the workshop.
“This training is not only timely but should be a continuous one, with a view to mitigating conflicts in our society”, said Malam Ahmed Mohammed of Media Trust.
Also, Mr Armstrong Bakam of Punch newspaper said, “I have learnt a great deal during the workshop and it will definitely add value to my work as a journalist”.
Amina Ahmed of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who represented the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Bauchi State Chapter, said the training has further widened her horizon in the areas of conflict-sensitive stories and that she intends to apply what she learnt in the course of writing her stories to reflect peacebuilding and national development.
In a closing remark, the Local Government Manager of the USAID State2State, Bauchi field office, Abacha Kachalla, thanked the participants for their active participation despite their tight schedules as practising journalists covering several beats in the state.
“I am optimistic that what was learnt here will support in achieving the overall goals of USAID State2State Activity towards entrenching good governance at all levels and further assist in nipping, from the bud, any conflict that may rear its head in our society”, said Kachalla.
Neptune Prime learnt that USAID Nigeria funded State2State Activity is a five-year intervention programme (2020 -2025) seeking to increase accountability, transparency and effectiveness in governance and is being implemented in Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Gombe and Sokoto states.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3d
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
