Media Practitioners Key To Bridging Divides In Nigeria – Group

PEACECORE II, a project funded by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft for Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) said journalists and media practitioners play a crucial role in promoting peace and bridging divides in Nigeria.

PEACECORE II trained Kaduna-based journalists on conflict-sensitive reporting and responsible storytelling.

Speaking yesterday in Kaduna at a capacity-building workshop on conflict-sensitive reporting, the project head, Myriam Wedraogo, said the training aimed at equipping the media to counter hate speech, misinformation, and divisive narratives.

“Stories we tell, the language we use and the platforms we create all shape how people see themselves. In a time when narratives can easily divide, your role as journalists, broadcasters and storytellers is more important than ever,” she said.

She urged participants to see the training as professional development and a commitment to advancing peace and inclusivity in Kaduna and Nigeria.

Also, the project’s communications Adviser, Oladipo Olunsho, explained that PEACECORE has been active in Nigeria for 51 years.

According to him, the PEACECORE project is currently ongoing in Plateau, Kaduna, and Taraba States and targets women, youth, children, farmers, herders, internally displaced persons, and people with disabilities.

He said the project’s second phase (2023–2027) focuses on conflict transformation, economic empowerment and environmental sustainability anchored on a gender-transformative approach.

Lead facilitator, Silas Jonathan, introduced participants to the concept of “information disorder” and its impact on peacebuilding and media ethics.

Jonathan urged journalists to be ambassadors of peace by countering false narratives and promoting truth.