In a bid to promote peace and enhance security in Nigeria’s border communities, journalists and mass communication students convened in Minna, Niger State, for a one-day sensitisation programme on conflict mitigation and resolution.
The event, held at the Justice Fati Lami Abubakar Institute for Legal and Administrative Studies (FLAILAS), was organised under the Nigeria-Benin Border Communities Peace Initiative and aimed at strengthening collaboration between media practitioners and peace actors.
Speaking at the event, the Niger State Media Team Lead of Search for Common Ground (SFCG), Priscilla Dennis, said the sensitisation was designed to improve understanding and response to conflict, particularly in vulnerable border regions such as Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, and Kwara States.
“This gathering is a significant step towards fostering a culture of peace in our communities. Through this initiative, we aim to improve perceptions of peace and security in the state, change attitudes, and deepen knowledge,” she said.
Also speaking, the Niger State representative of SFCG, Mr. Michael Daniel Dungyila, highlighted the organisation’s mission and its ongoing efforts to build peaceful communities through grassroots engagement and strategic communication.
“Where you have conflict, there Search appears,” he noted.
A keynote paper titled “The Roots of Conflict” was presented by Dr. Muhammad Dantala Aliyu, who stressed the need for preventive journalism. He identified iconoclasm, socioeconomic inequality, political instability, and historical grievances as major triggers of conflict in the region.
In another presentation, Mr. Daniel Atori, Chairman of the Kwara/Niger SFCG Media Team, delivered a paper titled “The Role of the Media in Peacebuilding.” He urged journalists to uphold the ethics of the profession by promoting factual, balanced reporting while steering clear of inciting or judgmental narratives.
The session featured interactive discussions and a lively question-and-answer segment, offering participants the opportunity to share experiences and deepen their understanding of peace communication.
The sensitisation programme was powered by the Common Ground Journalists Forum as part of the ECPS Project, which seeks to bridge security gaps and foster peaceful coexistence across border communities.
By Anna Moses
