Edo Govt, WANEP Finalise Plans To Promote Peacebuilding Journalism... Trains 42 Journalists At Worshop











Edo Govt, WANEP Finalise Plans To Promote  Peacebuilding Journalism

... Trains 42 Journalists At Worshop 

Iduozee Efe Paul, Benin 




The Edo State Government and the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) have finalised plans to ensure journalists focus on the need to promote peace, adequate security and strengthened peacebuilding in governance for community development.

According to WANEP, said journalists as the fourth estate of the realm supposed to be conversant on how to report issue that brings peace in the society.

Commenting on the Media Training Workshop put together by WANEP in Edo State,  the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Anani Okpebholo, said the essence is to promote peace, inclusion, and meaningful opportunities for women and youths to contribute positively to the society.


Mrs. Anani Okpebholo was represented by Mrs. Amen Ajayi, stressed the vitality of sustained deliberations around peace, security, ethical reporting, and the role of women and youths in nation-building.

She said the power of the media has become more powerful in the age of social media and rapid information dissemination, stressing that responsible journalism can help build peace, while careless reporting may fuel tension and conflict.


In her opening remarks, the National Network Coordinator of West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, Bridget Osakue, said the NGO was committed to promoting peacebuilding and conflict prevention across West Africa through various thematic programmes.

She stressed that the workshop was organised under the organisation’s Women, Peace and Security programme, which focuses on strengthening the role of women in peacebuilding.

Osakue said the organisation’s Active Non-violence and Peace Education initiative targets young people in schools and vulnerable out-of-school children.


She posited,“WANEP is West Africa Network for Peace Building and like the name, West Africa. We have offices in each country of West Africa. And we are a network of academia, civil society, and practitioners of peace building,” she said.



“The one that brought us here today is Women, Peace and Security. That one is a network of women, we call it the women in peace building. It has its own gamut of programs, different strengths,” she said.


“We have the Democracy and Good Governance that looks at inclusion and the issues of violence during electoral processes, not just during the elections. Because most times, elections are won before the election day.

“What we do is to monitor the issues of electoral violence, those intimidations, those violence that happen during the course of elections,” she stated.



“We used to have it only in primary and secondary schools, but we have added tertiary institutions because of cultism, and then out of school and street children, who are often used because of their vulnerability."

Osakue equally described it as the organisation’s flagship project for monitoring conflict situations across Nigeria and the West African region.

“Our flagship project is Early Warning and Human Security. What we do is to monitor issues of conflict around Nigeria.

“We have monitors across Nigeria and they report on a per minute per second basis and as they are reporting, because we have Memorandum of Understanding with ECOWAS and African Union, we are reporting to these bodies which translates to policy,” she explained.

She added that reports generated through the monitoring system help in policy influence and quick response to emerging security threats.

“What we do is to do a situation analysis and begin to analyze what is happening for policy influence and then quick response,” she said.


The Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Eugenia Abdallah, said journalists and media practitioners to embrace conflict-sensitive reporting and use their platforms to promote peace, unity and social inclusion in society.

She was represented by the Director of Media in the ministry, Daisy Osunde, made the call at the opening of a two-day training workshop for journalists and media practitioners on Women, Peace and Security, Youth, Peace and Security, and Conflict-Sensitive Reporting which opened in Benin City, Edo State on Wednesday, 13 May.

She said the media remained one of the most powerful instruments for social change, stressing that the role of journalists in shaping public opinion and strengthening peacebuilding efforts could not be overstated.

“I commend the commitment of journalists and media professionals who continue to play critical roles in shaping public opinion, promoting social cohesion, and strengthening peacebuilding efforts within our communities,” she said.

 
In his address, the  Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said the Ministry would continue to support initiatives that advance peacebuilding and encourage the active participation of women and youths in governance.

He was represented by the Director of Orientation in the Ministry, Mrs. Rose Imonikhe, the Commissioner described the media as a vital instrument for social transformation and public enlightenment.

He averred that journalists play a strategic role in shaping public opinion and fostering peaceful coexistence, adding that the Ministry remains committed to supporting programmes that strengthen peace and inclusion across the state.



The workshop, WANEP Programme Officer, Mary Nkifan enumerated the objectives of the training to include “Enhance understanding of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda among media practitioners

She said the workshop also focused on tackling misinformation, addressing gender-based violence, and increasing the visibility of women and youths in peacebuilding initiatives

“Strengthen the capacity of journalists to apply gender – sensitive and conflict – sensitive approaches in reporting

“Promote ethical journalism, including responsible reporting on gender based violence GBV and prevention of misinformation.

“Increase the visibility of women and youth as leaders and contributors to peace building processes.




The training programmes witnessed media professionals, journalists, NGOs and which also attract questions and answers from participants.

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