From Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
The Yobe State Government has intensified efforts to promote credible and peaceful elections by training journalists and social media practitioners on professional election coverage ahead of future electoral activities.
The one-day workshop, held in Damaturu on Monday in collaboration with the Correspondents’ Chapel, was themed: “Enhancing Professionalism in Election Coverage.”
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Information, Home Affairs and Culture, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, stressed the crucial role of the media in safeguarding democracy and ensuring peaceful electoral processes.
Represented by the ministry’s Director of Information, Alhaji Ali Musa Yawale, the commissioner said journalists serve as a vital link between citizens, institutions and democratic actors during elections.
“The role of journalists goes beyond reporting events. They must promote truth, peace, fairness and counter misinformation capable of threatening public confidence,” he said.
Bego described the training as timely, warning that fake news, sensational reporting and politically motivated narratives remain major threats to credible elections and national unity.
According to him, the workshop sessions focused on investigative journalism, fact-checking, ethical reporting, conflict-sensitive reporting and safety during election coverage to strengthen professional media practice.
He reaffirmed Governor Mai Mala Buni’s commitment to responsible journalism and democratic consolidation in Yobe State, urging participants to apply the knowledge gained in future assignments.
The commissioner also commended the facilitators for contributing their expertise toward improving the standard of election reporting in the state.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Yobe State Council, Rajab Ismail Muhammed, described the workshop as timely and significant ahead of upcoming political activities.
He appealed to the Ministry of Information to extend similar capacity-building programmes to other NUJ chapels across the state.
Muhammed also urged social media practitioners to learn from experienced journalists and embrace professionalism in their reportage.
During the training, media expert Mr Muhammad Auwal Umar delivered a presentation on ethical and professional standards in election reporting, highlighting voter education, fact-checking and investigative journalism as essential responsibilities of the media.
He also identified political pressure, propaganda, religious and ethnic sensitivities, as well as safety concerns, among the major challenges journalists face during elections.
Other presentations included investigative journalism and fact-checking by Mr Rabi’u Umar, while Dr Musa Usman spoke extensively on safety measures during election coverage.
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