By Shafa’atu Suleiman, Sokoto
The Country Director of the International Alert Nigeria, Mr. Paul Nyulaku-Bemshine has tasked media practitioners in the country to always disseminate messages that have positive effects on violent-prone communities.
Nyulaku-Bemshine spoke in Sokoto on Monday at a 2-day workshop for media practitioners, civil society organizations and community leaders within northwest states on media and Strategic Communications (STRATCOM) in collaboration with the office of the Secretary to the State Government.
He noted that the media play very crucial role in disseminating positive and peace messages about de-radicalization among members of the violent groups.
“We want the media to call out the people that have violated the peace in the society in order to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“The role of the media is to dig out more evidence against these perpetrators in 5society and identify some of the wrongdoing in the society through investigative journalism,” Nyulaku-Bemshine said.
According to him, the workshop is being implemented under CSSF-funded project: ‘Promoting Stability, Gender Inclusion, Access to Justice, and Accountability in Northwest Nigeria.’
He urged the participants to come up with viable recommendations that aim to increase public awareness on the role of the media in promoting messages and reducing harmful cultural norms that promote sexual and gender-based violence in conflict context.
“We will aim for key stakeholders to detect prevailing narratives that fuel violence, lack of access to justice accountability and Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Print Media, Abdelaziz Abdelaziz described journalism as a key tool that helps democracy settings to thrive.
He urged journalists to deploy solution-based journalism approach on issues of conflicts as it affects communities in Nigeria.
“There are positive stories within the conflict communities. These are the areas the media should champion to better the society,” Abdullaziz advised.
Earlier, the Secretary to the Sokoto State Government, Muhammad Sifawa said all hands must be on deck to curtail the rising insecurity within the northwest states.
He said that the state government is aware of the challenges of insecurity andprepared to tackle it head-on through the provision of Toyota Hilux vehicles for security agencies in the state to ease their operations.
