Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP) Project being Implemented by Mercy Corps in partnership with Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC), African Radio Drama Association (ARDA), PARE, SCDDD and JDPC funded by USAID has organized a two-day training for media Practitioners in Jos, the Plateau State Capital on Conflict Sensitivity Reportage.
CIPP Coordinator, Samson Auta disclosed that the essence of the training is to engage Media Practitioners and expose them to how effective they are to report on sensitive conflict issues.
He hinted that the training is designed to provide media practitioners with an understanding of conflict and how it undermines peace building processes and democratic practices within any nation since the media play a vital role in this regard towards achieving a peaceful society in their reporting and other activities. He further stated that the training is meant to create awareness that will lead to more objective, peaceful reporting that is devoid of fanning the flames of conflict in Plateau State and Nigeria as a whole.

CIPP Program Manager, Taye said the project is aimed to help in building Community resilience and assist to build lasting peace. He went on to emphasize on the need for effective and reliable communication if a stable nation is to be actualized. He said the project has presence in some communities in Bassa, Barikin Ladi and Riyom LGAs in Plateau State and they are working to achieve its mandate which is “fostering an enabling environment for peace in Nigeria”.

In their separate remarks, the Director of Press and Public Affairs (DOPPA) to the Governor, Gyang Bere, Acting Director General of the Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA), Timothy Gayi and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Brig. Gen. Gakji Shipi (Rtd) commended the important function of the media in crisis situation saying the meeting was apt and timely as it will further guide the Media Experts on how to report objective and always put into consideration national interest above any form of sentiments.
They hinted that the State Government is working round the clock to achieve a more united, peaceful, safer and prosperous State.
They admonished the Media Practitioners to focus on reportage that will engender development and report in the manner that will deescalate tension. They said the media is a veritable tool for peace building and should not be use for wrong purposes.

Plateau State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs Kaneng Pam-Hworo on her part urged the participants to ensure they report issues well assuring Nigerians that the agency will continue to mobilize Nigerians to act well.

Godwin Okoko Conflict Technical Adviser Mercy Corpa a Facilitator at the training presented on “Conflict Sensitivity and Do No Harm” where he urged Media Experts to ensure the stories they report are those that builds than the ones that destroys.
He said the “do no harm” is an approach that recognizes the presence of “dividers” and “connectors” in conflict. He went further to disclose that the approach is to avoid exposing people and communities to additional risks through reports by media Practitioners and their actions.
“The interaction between our reports and the wider context is to ensure news and reports does not exacerbate tension between groups and communities” he pointed out.

Media Practitioners were drawn from the Electronic Media, Print Media and Online Bloggers as Participants of the two-days training which held from Tuesday 25th to Wednesday 26th July, 2023 at Crispan Hotel Jos, Plateau State.

Highlights of the training include group discussion/presentation on the challenges faced in reporting and recommendations, experience sharing by Kaduna Team and presentation of certificates.

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CIPP Trains Media Practitioners on Conflict Sensitivity Reportage in Plateau State