Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) in collaboration with the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) is partnering on training for journalists and spokespersons within defence community in Nigeria.
The workshop which is scheduled to hold from Tuesday 11 to Thursday 14, November 2014 is expected to expose participants to rigorous examination of the forces at play in such conflicts as War in the North east, renewed militancy in the Niger Delta and frequent clashes between farmers and cattle herdsmen in the Middle Belt.
A statement by DAME indicated that the workshop is part of the desire of the two organisations to manage information concerning conflicts better in Nigeria.
“Designed as a mixture of the practical and theoretical, participants will deliberate on how well such issues are reported and how helpful is the information management of the conflicts by the spokespersons of our defence agencies. They will also consider how best to sensitise journalists and government spokespersons to greater awareness of the crucial role of conflict-sensitive communication and reporting in the management of conflicts.”
DAME Project Administrator, Mr. Lanre Idowu, explains, “The training arises from national and international concern on the destructive consequences that conflict and violence have for national understanding, cohesion and development”. It is designed to boost better reporting of not only the current conflicts but also help to manage future conflicts non-violently and reduce their negative impacts on the most vulnerable populations.
“The training programme identifies the media as one of the principal agents of socialization in the State and worthy partners in the much needed search for peace, reconciliation and stability in the country. The overall purpose is, therefore, to build the capacities of our journalists and spokespersons of security agencies on conflict sensitive communications and reporting, and to facilitate collaboration and better understanding among both groups in the national interest.”
Billed to chair the opening is the National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki. Resource persons include Professor Umar Pate of Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Nosa Owens-Ibie of Caleb University, Imota, Dr. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika of the University of Lagos, Dr. Bisi Olawunmi of Bowen University, Dr. Ukoha Ukiwo of the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme, and Mrs. Tinu Odugbemi of Headhigh International.
