Oxfam Asks Journalists To Focus On Climate-affected Communities

Oxfam Nigeria has called on journalists to assist climate-affected persons and communities to tell the stories of how the menace is impacting negatively on their lives.

The country lead for African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) for Oxfam in Nigeria, Dr Kenneth Akpan, made the call at a two-day capacity building for journalists and the AACJ team in Akwanga, Nasarawa State.

Akpan explained that amplifying the voices of vulnerable communities and groups about the impact of climate change on their lives would enable the government to take bold action to address the challenges while also assisting the affected communities to mitigate the same.

He said such support by journalists and other change agents would embolden communities to stand up and speak out for their right to a fairer, livable future.

He also urged the media to always highlight and bring the success stories of various intervening organisations to the fore so that other bodies can also come in and do their parts.

“The media plays a big role in amplifying voices, it plays a big role in telling the story of the Agunji community, telling the stories of people in different communities who are affected by climate change.
“Telling the stories of farmers out there who lost their farm last year due to flooding, some of them can’t go out there and tell their own stories.

“It is you that can tell their stories and help them to get the necessary attention that is needed,” he said.
He enjoined the people of various communities who, in one way or the other benefited from AACJ projects, to take charge and give feedback on the impacts the project has on them and their communities.

The lead facilitator at the training, Mr Dan Yakubu, enjoined journalists to promote evidence-based, traceable and verifiable information.

Yakubu, who spoke on the topic, ” Media Training for Climate Change: Most Significant Change Stories Reporting” urged journalists to also promote climate change networking and collaboration among communities, civil society organisations (CSOs), and the public for the overall development of the state and country at large.