From AMEDU JOSEPH, Lokoja
Stallion Times Media Services, over the weekend, trained 30 journalists in Kogi on human rights and social Inclusive reportage.
The workshop which was funded by MacArthur had engaged journalists selected from across print, electronic and social media platforms.
The Project Coordinator of the workshop, Isiyaku Ahmed, in his welcome address, enumerated the objectives of the training to include: To appreciate conditions for gender equality, social inclusion and development via giving the sector adequate publicity and promotion as well as advocating for human rights and social inclusion through news coverage.
According to Isiyaku, “The Workshop is also aimed at instituting a dialogue mechanism on Collaborative Media engagement for development inclusion and accountability (CMedia) Project”
He expressed optimism that at the end of the training, participants would have been equipped with necessary knowledge, techniques and strategies for evoking abandoned human rights and social inclusion stories that were for a long time neglected.
“Journalists should at all times strive to do stories on gender equality and be crusaders of human rights through their professional social responsibility functions to the citizens, ” Isiyaku Ahmed admonished.
The Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State, Ismail Isah while declaring the workshop open, commended Stallion Times Media for extending its services for the benefit of Kogi journalists. And described the gesture as a rare opportunity.
The Special Adviser gave an assurance that the training will no doubt enhance the capacity building of the participants to deliver on the reportage of human rights and social inclusion in the state.
He promised that the Kogi State Government under the leadership of Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, will run an all inclusive governance that will involve both male and female folk as well as the elderly and the young citizens.
Highpoint of the training was lectures delivered by Dr. Theophilus Abbah of the Daily Trust Foundation on “Gender Equality in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Prospects” as well as “Gender Based Violence Reporting”.
