By John Ekah, Zamfara
Zamfara Peace Journalists Forum (ZAMPEJF) in collaboration with an international peace-building body, Search for Common Ground (SCG), has sensitized 100 students of Department of Mass Communications, Zamfara State College of Arts and Sciences (ZACAS) on peace-building and sensitive reportage.
The one-day sensitization programme was conducted under a project known as ‘Enhancing Collaboration for Peace and Security (ECPS) in Nigeria, Benin and Niger Republic Border Communities’, in the Assembly Hall of ZACAS, Gusau, the state’s capital.
The SCG is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that works to end violent, conflict and rather builds healthy, safe, and just societies.
Speaking during the programme, Provost of ZACAS, Malam Nura Salisu Anka, commended ZAMPEJF and SCG for choosing the college to conduct the sensitization exercise.
Anka stated that the sensitization came at the right time considering the increase in the practice of unprofessional journalism in society.
“We are happy with this intervention. We are ever ready to partner with you, especially the ECPS project and Search for Common Ground, to educate our students,” he added.
The Provost assured of more collaboration with media stakeholders to enhance the capacity of potential journalists produced being by the college.
Presenting a paper titled ‘Concept of Peace, Conflict and Violence Resolution’, the Chairman of ZAMPEJF, Ishaq Tambuwal, said the sensitization programme was aimed at enhancing the capacity of the students as future journalists in peace-building at conflict-prone areas.
Tambuwal said the selection of the school for the programme followed the active participation of Mass Communications students in the college in various journalism activities in the state.
He restated that the sensitization was aimed at educating future journalists on conflict and violence reporting to reduce crises in the society, particularly the recurring security challenges bedeviling border communities.
According to the chairman, Zamfara, as a hotbed of various security challenges in Nigeria’s North-West, means journalists have a greater role to play in complementing government’s efforts to address the challenges.
The event was significant because it exposed the students learning journalism to the idea of promoting peace, reconciliation as well as enhancing dialogue and cohesion in the society.
“I want use this opportunity to extend our appreciation to the Mass Communication Department and management of ZACAS for providing an enabling environment, support and cooperation to conduct the sensitization exercise,” Tambuwal said.
He appreciated SCG for its support and collaboration to enhance the capacity of journalists in the state towards promoting the idea of peace in the profession.
Malam Shehu Sani of Pride FM FRCN Station and the secretary of ZAMPEJF, who presented a paper on ‘Complicit Sensitive Reporting and its Impacts’, urged participants to approach journalism profession with a sense of contributing to the development of society.
He also urged the students to write credible stories on issues of public interest in order to curb unrest and reduce security tension.
