NEWS STORY
Journalists in Kafanchan have committed to support activities that will promote lasting peace in southern Kaduna.
They made the commitment at a one-day capacity building for journalists on Peace Reporting, as part of activities towards the implementation of the Network of Nigerian Facilitators’ (NNF) Peace Dialogue project in Kaduna.
The one-day training was to increase the knowledge of participants on advocacy journalism as a tool towards achieving sustainable development.
In a paper on Advocacy journalism, Program Officer of Africa Media Development Foundation Joy Gadani, enjoined participants to be more committed towards promoting peace, as part of their social responsibility to their communities.
According to her, journalism has gone beyond neutrality as a result of evolving trends and the need for sustainable development.
“as journalists representing various platforms, you should make it a point of duty to amplify the voices of local peace builders in your communities”.
The Project Facilitator, Mrs Sekyen Dadik, said journalists needed to utilize the various platforms they represent to act as bridge that reconciles conflicting communities of Goska and Dangoma in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna state.
She maintained that the role of journalists in peace building can never be overemphasized, hence it was imperative to highlight the significance of peace through broadcast programmes, articles, and direct engagement with members of the community.
“oftentimes you will hear a person say, I heard it from on the radio. This goes to show the power within the reach of journalists,” she said.
On their parts, the journalists reaffirmed their commitment towards producing contents that will not only promote peaceful co-existence, but also ensure sustainable peace in the area.
The project titled “Community Dialogue to Foster Peaceful Co-Existence among Goska and Dangoma Communities in Kaninkon Chiefdom, Jema’a Local Government seeks to involve community members through peace dialogues and non-violent actions to work together towards restoring trust and sustainable peace and stability in their communities.
The project is being implemented by Network of Facilitators in Nigeria in collaboration with the United States Institute of Peace.
Godwin Duru
