By; TINA PHINEAS, Yola
In it’s efforts to address environmental issues ravaging our planet, the Dangote Group in collaboration with the Climate Africa Media Initiative and Center (CAMIC) has trained about 60 journalists in NorthEast Nigeria.
New Nigerian reports that, the training with the theme, “Reporting The Environment For Sustainability” is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility.
The training is aimed at awakening the environmental consciousness of journalists to take proper action in raising and sustaining awareness on environmental issues.
Declaring the workshop open in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, Jibrin Abubakar, Media Manager Relations of Dangote North, noted that media is central in championing any change needed to take place in the society.
“We in Dangote see media as partners in progress.
” Nigeria can be better if newsmen understand the realities of the environment”, he said.
Abubakar, expressed sadness over the devastating effects caused by flood in Adamawa and other parts of the country, saying government, media and individuals have to play their part to secure the environment from destruction.
In his presentation titled, “Environmental Awareness: A Mass Media Perspective” Dr. John Ngamsa, Senior lecturer with Modibbo Adama University Yola, said, the media is saddled with the responsibility of raising awareness, impacting human attitude, perception and bringing about behavioural change.
The University Don said the need to promote healthy environment cannot be over-emphasized, as 90 percent of the air we breathe in is no longer pure.
“As it stands today 99% of air we take are no longer pure, it is only 1%, we need to secure the environment with the natural things that are endowed particularly trees, plants and flowers with good and clean water.
“People need a secured environment with natural endowment for habitation”, he said.
He identified several environmental challenges including climate change, biodiversity, pollution, natural disaster among others and called on the participants to focus more attention on reporting such issues.
In another presentation titled “Journalism and Climate Change” the Executive Director, Climate Africa Media Initiative and Centre(CAMIC), Aliu Akoshile, described journalists as critical stakeholders in protecting and preserving healthy environment.
Akoshile, said the time was rife to train Nigerian journalists on the impact of the climate change on Nigerians.
” Climate change impacts are responsible for most conflicts and economic issues in Nigeria, which will help newsmen in their daily reporting”, he stated..
Also speaking, Dr. Shadrach Idi, Lecturer Taraba State University urged participants to develop interest in Investigative Environmental Journalism (IEJ) which is the title of his presentation.
He stressed the need for safeguarding and sustaining the environment for future generations.
In his closing remarks, the Programme Manager CAMIC, Rasheed Yusuf, while appreciating the efforts of the facilitators and participants, appealed to the participants in particular, to put what they have learnt into practice
New Nigerian reports that the training equipped journalists with relevant knowledge required to effectively report topical environmental issues in order to protect and promote healthy and safe environment for all.
