BY BENJAMIN OMOIKE
Nigerian Army has tasked journalists, public relations and media practitioners on the need to be patriotic and positive in reporting sensitive conflict and security issues in the interest of the country.
It gave the charge in a three-day media workshop held at Headquarters 3 Division, Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Jos, Plateau State, by the Directorate of Army Public Relations (DAPR).
As part of capacity building and professional training for its officers and soldiers, the Directorate of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Nigerian Army, is holding a three-day media workshop at the Headquarters 3 Division, Nigerian Army, Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Jos, Plateau State.
The workshop with the theme, “Conflict Sensitive C o m m u n i c a t i o n , Patriotism and Positive Media Reportage in a Joint Environment”, is part of the Nigerian Army’s effort to build capacity and give professional training to its officers and soldiers.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion and represented by Major General IS Ali, General Officer Commanding 3 Division/Force Commander, Operation Safe Haven, declared the workshop open.
Major General Chris Olukolade, a former Director of Defence Information, who was the Keynote Speaker, urged media practitioners to always put the interest of the country first while reporting on conflict and security situations. He noted that when sensitive information is published and broadcasted in a negative manner, it can escalate conflict and increase panic.
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Other speakers at the event include Daniel Bitrus Majang, Plateau State’s Commissioner for Information and Communication, who spoke on the topic, “Enhancing National Security Through Effective Crisis Communication in Joint Environment”; Dr Barnabas N. Gbam, Rector Nigerian Television College, Jos, who spoke on “Media Management in Peace and Conflict Situation: Strategies and Techniques” as well as Dr GN Danaan, Head of Mass Communication Department, University of Jos, who spoke on “Enhancing National Security in Emergency: The Need for Patriotic and Objective Media Reportage”, amongst others.
Among other prominent personalities that graced the event is a former Director of Defence Information (DDI) and Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Major General Rabe Abubakar; Commander, Nigerian Air Force Base Jos, Air Commodore WN Maigida; Representative of the Director Defence Information, Air Commodore Maigida; Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyeama Nwachukwu; Director Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet and former Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman (rtd).
Others are Navy Captain I Abdulkadir, representative of the Nigerian Navy Director of Information, Commanders of affiliate formations and Staff Officers at the Headquarters of 3 Division, the Executive Director, Armed Forces Radio, Colonel TO Antigha, and Colonel Ko Ogunsanya, various officers and soldiers of the DAPR, as well as seasoned public relations practitioners and journalists.
