BY RICHARD ABU, Lafia –
Stakeholders at a one day training workshop organized by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) for journalists have called for more media advocacy through early reporting.of impending disasters and security challenges.
The workshop which took place over the weekend at the Al-Vari Hotel in Keffi, Nasarawa State had in attendance media practitioners from different media organizations.
In his paper presentation, the guest speaker Mr. Senator Iroebu, who spoke on the theme: “The Role of the Media in Building Effective Early Warning and Early Response Mechanism for Communities-Conflict Sensitive and Objective Reportage”, urged journalists to be always proactive through early reportage on impending disasters and conflicts to enable government and others involved in tackling such impending disaster.
According to the guest speaker, media practitioners are in a better position to publish data and information on conflicts and disasters to mitigate waste and save lives.
He also warned journalists against sensitive reporting and politicization of news to promote conflicts.
In her opening remarks, the Coordinator, Peace and Security with CISLAC, Bertha Ogbimi welcomed the participants and explained that the organization which has being in existence over the years and spread to over 108 counties has been in the vanguard of advocacy in averting conflicts and disasters as well as collaborating with members of the legislature and other security agencies in bringing about peace and security.
According to her, they have in the past few days focused on Nasarawa State, where they held sessions with security agencies like the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the hunters group and village heads popularly called Mai-ungwa, training them on intelligence gathering and letting them know that security is not for the police or army alone but everybody’s business.
On their part, the participants at the workshop expressed satisfaction with the activities of CISLAC and for considering them worthy for the workshop. They promised to make use of the knowledge gathered to improve on their reportage of security
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