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By IHussaini Yero, Funtua
A Journalists’ Platform, Zamfara Peace Journalists Forum (ZAMPEJF) in collaboration with an International Peacebuilding Organisation, Search for Common Ground, on Thursday sensitised 100 students of Mass Communications Department, Zamfara College of Arts and Sciences (ZACAS), Gusau to peace building and conflict sensitive reportage.
The one-day sensitisation programme was conducted under a project, ‘Enhancing Collaboration for Peace and Security (ECPS) in Nigeria-Benin Republic Border Communities’.
The Search for Common Ground is an International NonGovernmental Organization that works to end violent conflict and build healthy, safe, and just societies.
The Provost, ZACAS Malam Nura Salisu Anka, commended the forum and Search for Common Ground for choosing the college to conduct the sensitisation exercise.
Anka stated d that the sensitisation came at the right time considering the increase of practicing unprofessional journalism in the society.
“We are happy with this intervention, we ever ready to partner with you especially the ECPS project and Search for Common Ground to educate our students,” he added.
The provost assured more collaboration with the media stakeholders to enhance the capacity of journalists produced by the college.
Presenting a paper titled, ‘Concept of Peace, Conflict and Violence and Conflict Resolution’, the Chairman of ZAMPEJF, Ishaq Tambuwal, said the sensitisation programme was aimed at enhancing the capacity of the students as future journalists in peace building.
Tambuwal said the selection of the school for the programme followed tne active participation of Mass Communications students in the college in various journalism activities in the state.
He said the sensitisation aimed to educate future journalists on on conflict and violence reporting to reduce crises in the society particularly the recurring security challenges including in the border communities.
“Zamfara as epicentre of various security challenges in North-West, the journalists have greater role to play in complementing government’s effort in addressing the security challenges.
“This event is very important, the students learning journalism profession should have the idea of promoting peace building, reconciliation as well enhancing dialogue and cohesion in the society.
“I want use this opportunity to extend our appreciation to the mass communication department and management of this college for providing an enabling environment, support and cooperation to conduct the sensitisation exercise,” Tambuwal said.
He appreciated search for common ground for its support and collaboration to enhance the capacity of journalists in the state towards promoting peace journalism.
Also speaking, Malam Shehu Sani of Pride FM FRCN Station Gusau, who presented a paper on ‘Complicit Sensitive Reporting and its Impacts’, urged the participants to use journalism profession to contribute to the development of the society.
Sani, who is the State Secretary ZAMPEJF, also urged the students to write credible stories on issues of public interest to contribute towards reducing security challenges.
In a welcome remarks, the Head of Department, Mass Communications Department, ZACAS, Malam Tukur Janyau, described the department’s partnership with ZAMPEJF and search for common ground as a welcome development.
He said, “We are very grateful with this exercise that will impsrt knowledge about credible journalism,”.
Janyau assured department’s commitment to collaboraing with the journalists’ platform to impart more knowledge on journalism profession to its students.
A Pre-HND student, who spoke on behalf of the participants of the event, Yusha’u Lawali, described the training as timely.
Lawali said the event impacted them with various ideas and facts on how to use journalism profession to promote peace and stability in the society
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