by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A handful of 60 Kaduna journalists, along with affiliate media influencers, have recently undergone training on the use of modern digital media tools to enhance peace journalism practice in Kaduna and other parts of Northern region.
Similarly, 30 of those trained include youths – comprising of influencers, bloggers, and others, also trained around the modern digital media tools to also enhance peace in the state and the region.
The core essence of the training, among other things, was to enhanced trainee to make best use of digital media tools, either for telling stories or countering misinformation and disinformation, in a maximized way.
The three days’ intensive training workshop held between Monday and Wednesday, during the week, in Kaduna, was funded by Germany Cooperation, the Deutsche Gesellschaft Fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (Giz), and implemented together with partners by MICT and also the LIDA Network.
Speaking to journalists Wednesday, in an interview, a trainer, who is a conflict and security researcher with also focus on climate and environment, Murtala Abdullahi, said the training was basically organized to build the capacity of journalists and equip them with knowledge so as to maximize best use of modern digital media tools.
Abdullahi added that, journalists were trained to “learn more in terms of the modern digital tools for journalism; how they can make best use of it, either for telling stories and also for countering misinformation and disinformation.”
“They also learned how to fact-check on these mal-information, including AI manipulations. Today, we also had training around digital media and peace journalism and, earlier on, we had training on conflict-sensitive journalism,” he said.
“So, we spoke on a wide range of tools and, more importantly, we spoke about how journalists can have the power to encourage peace-building in communities by not using certain forms of language that can drive more division, but use languages that can promote more social cohesion and peace.
“So, the project was funded by GIZ and implemented together with partners MICT and also the LIDA Network; and so, I am supporting the LIDA Network implementation process alongside other trainers’ presentations.”
Murtala Abdullahi explained that, “GIZ is a German Development Organization here in Nigeria, but they are also across different parts of the world. They implement different projects to support different communities, different countries.
“And so, one of the projects they implemented in Nigeria, called the ‘PEACECORE II Project,’ is around this subject.”
“Okay, generally, journalists and journalism thrives on accuracy, balancing and, above all, being very objective: now what makes this training different from these projects?
“So, we have, for example, there have been tools that journalists have been taught around how to verify images that people post online, how to ensure that those kind of misinformation (or fake news) are properly verified and countered, and how journalists can also avoid falling into those forms of fake news,” he said.
He also sighted example of how some journalists could receive an image and someone says, “Oh, this is what is happening now in my area.”
“So, we kind of like provided journalists knowledge on how to do this from real verification. So, basically, it’s helping journalists to be more factual and more accurate,” he added.
On what organisers intended to achieve at the end of the training, Abdullahi said “The outcome is basically just to help journalists do their job better and help journalists to be part of the peace process in our country.”
Also in an interview, a trainer-cum founder of ‘LIDA Network,’ Irene David-Arinze, said the growing security and social tensions across parts of northern Nigeria informed the need to train journalists on responsible reporting and peace-building.
Irene David-Arinze, whose organisation serves as a local implementing partner for MICT on the GIZ-funded PEACECORE II Project, explained that the initiative, themed ‘Media for Peace,’ was designed to equip journalists with the skills to de-escalate tensions, particularly those linked to religious and ethnic conflicts in states such as Kaduna, Plateau and Adamawa.
According to her, the media plays a critical role in shaping public perception and can either inflame or reduce conflict, depending on how information is reported.
“We want to see how we can leverage the power of the media to douse tension, especially around religious issues and ethnic crises, and ultimately promote development and peace-building in our communities,” she said.
Irene David-Arinze noted that the training focused on helping journalists identify and address misinformation, disinformation and mal-information, while discouraging what she termed as “sensational headlines” that could trigger unrest.
“Some people only read headlines. So, it is important that journalists are responsible in how they tell their stories. We expect more objective and balanced reporting as an outcome of this training,” she added.
She further disclosed that her session centred on communication for development and peace-building, urging journalists to critically assess their language and ensure neutrality in their reports.
“Journalists must be objective and not one-sided. The way stories are framed can influence how audiences perceive issues,” she argued.
Irene David-Arinze described the participants as “highly receptive,” noting that the training featured robust exchanges of ideas and practical learning.
She also called for stronger collaboration between journalists and the wider community, acknowledging the challenges media professionals face, but encouraged them to remain committed to ethical standards and credible sourcing.
The PEACECORE II Project aims to strengthen capacities for conflict transformation and support peaceful coexistence in vulnerable communities across Nigeria.
Participants, both men and women, from different media industries commended the organizers and called for more retaining media practitioners for the good and better society and Nigeria in general.
A total of 60 participants took part in the Kaduna training, comprising 30 professional journalists and 30 youth participants involved in media and content creation. The group included both early-career practitioners and veterans with decades of experience.