Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Coordinator, Office of the First Lady of Edo State, Mrs Anani Edesili, has urged media practitioners to promote ethical and balanced reportage on the roles of women and youths as co-drivers of nation’s peacebuilding.
Mrs. Edesili, represented by Ameh Ajayi gave the task at a-two-day training workshop for over 40 Journalists on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), Youth, Peace and Security (YPS), and Conflict-Sensitive Reporting in Edo State organized by West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and held in Benin.
Mrs. Edesili said that the roles of the media practitioners can never be undermined in reporting issues that have to do with the women when it comes to conflicts reporting because of their significant roles in nation building.
Also speaking the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon Eugenia Abdallah, represented by the Public Relations Officer of the ministry, Mrs. Daisy Osunde, said Women and young people are often among the most affected during conflicts and crises, yet they are also among the strongest agents of peace, reconciliation, and community resilience.
Mrs. Abdallah noted that across our communities in Edo State and Nigeria at large, women continue to serve as mediators, caregivers, mobilisers, and advocate for justice and stability.
While speaking on the youths, Abdallah said they possess the enormous energy, creativity, and leadership potential that must be channelled positively towards peacebuilding and community development but unfortunately, negative narratives, misinformation, sensationalism, and inflammatory reporting can aggravate social tensions, ethnic divisions, gender discrimination, and violence.
She said this is why conflict-sensitive reporting has become increasingly important in our society today because it encourages accuracy, fairness, balance, empathy, and responsibility in reporting.
The commissioner said the themes of the workshop, Women, Peace and Security; Youth, Peace and Security; and Conflict-Sensitive Reporting are interconnected and central to sustainable development and nation-building.
For Mrs. Rose Imonikhe, Director of Orientation, Ministry of Information and Strategy, she said the ministry has been in the forefront in championing the cause of the women and girl-child in the state and it would continue to do more for its citizens.
On the part of the National Network Coordinator of West Africa Network for Peacebuilding WANEP- Nigeria, Dr. Bridget Osakwe, she thanked the Edo State government for its roles in promoting the interest of women in the state just as he added that Edo State’s Action Plan (SAP) has been finalized and is ready for launch, pending the governor’s signature.
According to her, 16 states across the federation have successfully localized the plan, with ongoing efforts to ensure more states follow suit.
She appealed for the support of the Office of the First Lady to fast-track the official launch and implementation of the Edo State Action Plan (SAP).
