NEDC trains journalists, CSOs on tech, conflict reporting in Northeast
Story by Sa’adatu MAINA, Damaturu
In its efforts to keep media practitioners and members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) informed about the fast-evolving world of technology, the North East Development Commission (NEDC) organised a three-day training workshop for the two groups in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The workshop, which commenced on Monday and concluded on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, aimed at enhancing the capacity of media professionals and CSOs in deploying non-kinetic approaches to fight insurgency in Nigeria’s Northeast region.
Held at the Forshams Event Centre in Maiduguri, in collaboration with RANLAL Global Services Limited, the event featured Professor Umar A. Pate, Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Kashere Gombe, as the lead resource person. Other speakers included Professor Mu’azu Abubakar of the University of Maiduguri, Mass Communication Department; Dr. Nathaniel Damjibo of the University of Ibadan, and Dr. Muhammad Kudu Abubakar, the lead consultant and facilitator.
The workshop covered various topics, including conflict-sensitive reporting, investigative journalism techniques, media engagement for policy influence, and the role of media in reconciliation and reintegration. Participants also engaged in group work focused on collaboration between media, CSOs, and the government.
In his address, NEDC’s Head of Corporate Services, Abba Musa, explained that the workshop was a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing the capacities of journalists and CSOs in the region’s post-insurgency recovery efforts.
Represented by NEDC’s Strategic Communication Manager, Miss Naomi Abwaku, Abba Musa emphasised that the workshop was not a new initiative, but rather a refresher designed to scale up efforts in working together to provide humanitarian support, economic interventions, social amenities, and contribute to the overall rebuilding process of the zone.
He added that the major objectives of the training were to equip journalists and CSOs with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote peacebuilding, harmonious coexistence, and sustainability, in line with the North-East Stabilization and Development Master Plan of the NEDC.
Abba further noted that, while kinetic approaches have been used to address the conflict, non-kinetic approaches—focused on peacebuilding, partnerships, and community engagement—are equally crucial for promoting sustainable peace and development.
Neptune Prime learned that the training brought together 100 journalists and CSOs from the six states of the Northeast region to explore non-kinetic approaches to conflict resolution. Among the 100 participants, 20 were staff members from NEDC Corporate Services.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at NeptunePrime.
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