The Director General of the Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA), Dr. Julie Sanda has enjoined Youths to use the social media positively to promote peaceful coexistence, unity and harmonious living in order to attract meaningful development to the society.
Dr. Julie made the appeal at the Old Government House Rayfield Jos, Plateau State on Saturday 14th September, 2024 during a one-day well-packaged Appreciative Inquiry and Mentorship Seminar organized by the Plateau Peace Building Agency in collaboration with Search for Common Ground for youths and media Persons to commemorate the 2024 World Peace Day.
She said social media play critical roles in the society and described Social Media Influencers as key partners in peace building.
She emphasized the need for the effective use of the social media to promote the ideals of peace and a new approach to reporting conflict situations that would engender unity, promote peace and meaningful development.
She used the Participants to discard negative narratives and engage in positive reporting that will attract developments.
She again urged the Participants to Avoid reportage that would fuel conflict and division.
She lauded the positive contributions and impact of the social media to the development of the State but frown at the negative use of same to promote unhealthy agenda and fake news
She reiterated the commitment of the Agency to meet its overall mandate of promoting and strengthening the ideals of sustainable peace through thorough research, coordination, dialogue and collaborative partnership with a wide range of Stakeholders.
Alfred Mangai the Project Media Officer of Search For Common Ground said the organization is working to transform how people address conflict and resolve their differences.
He lauded the efforts of the State Government in the aspect of purposeful collaboration to achieve lasting peace.
He said through the training, Participants will be equipped with the skills that will assist them in conflict sensitive reportage.
Shama Balami, Project Officer Search for Common Ground urged the participants to use digital technologies to promote peace at all times.
Head of Programme Implementation Search for Common Ground, Godwin Okoko on his part hinted that the Seminar aimed to see how media Influencers can be trained to contribute to peace building and conflict resolution.
Earlier in his goodwill message Dr. Timothy Golu the Special Adviser to the Governor of Plateau State on Strategic Communication spoke on what the Citizens of Plateau State stand to gain if the negative narratives about the State is changed. He harped on the the responsible use of social media.
On his part, the Plateau State House of Assembly Chairman on Security and Member representing Langtang North Central Constituency, Hon. Nanbol Listick lauded the organizers and affirmed that the workshop was very important to the State having brought together critical social media Influencers who are agents of peace.
He averred that without peace, there will be no development. He assured that the State House of Assembly will continue to be supportive to the Peace Building Agency and ready to come up with sound legislation that will bring about permanent peace.
The Seminar featured Paper Presentations on “Social Media as a Tool for Conflict Prevention and Peace Building” by Sefa Chia, “Conflict Sensitivity and Do no Harm” by Manji Mangrock, “Understanding Fake News” by Da Yakubu Taddy and “Appreciative Inquiry and Peace building” by Elkanah Izam.
The Participants were charged to share messages of reconciliation and not those that incite as well use the Social Media positively to Mobilize support for peace. Participants were also admonished to collectively combat fake news and work for peace.
The Resource Persons hinted that the social media can be used to foster dialogue and reconciliation in Plateau State.
They said digital platforms can be used to run targeted peace campaigns, advocating for tolerance and non-violence.
They were also charge to be responsible, truthful and factual as they use the social media knowing fully well the danger associated with fake news.
They were also asked to always try to fack check what they post and decipher what is real and what is fake.
All the Resource Persons emphasized the need for effective use of the social media to entrench good governance and societal transformation.
A major highlight of the Seminar was an interactive sessions by the Participants comprising of Bloggers, Social Media Influencers and Media Experts drawn from Plateau and Bauchi States.
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