From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Country Director, Actionaid Nigeria, Ene Obi has stressed the need for journalists world over to focus more on developmental journalism such as promotion of peace, conflict resolution and prevention of violent extremism within their immediate communities.
The Country Director who was represented by Fumilayo Oyefusi, Actionaid Director, Organizational effectiveness, stated on Tuesday in Karu, Nasarawa State, during a three day media training for selected journalists from Kogi and Nasarawa States, on Advanced Conflict Sensitive Reportage, held at the Goshen City.
According to her journalists must always take note of their personal safety while reporting crisis or conflict situations, stressing that no story is worth the life of any journalists.
She insisted that reports on violence and crisis situation must be balance, accurate while giving fair hearing to all sides in conflict.
Speaking also Anicetus Atakpu, Resilience Programme Coordinator, noted that the phase two System and Structures Strengthening Approach Against Radicalization to Violent Extremism ( SARVE), was aimed at strengthening community resilience against violent extremism in Kogi and Nasarawa States.
According to him, the programme which is being funded by Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, (GCERF), will last for a period of three years and would be implemented in twenty four communities and in twelve local government areas in Kogi and Nasarawa States.
The six LGAs in Kogi State are; Igalamela/Odolu, Ankpa, Adavi, Okehi, Lokoja and Kogi, while six LGAs in Nassarawa State are; Obi, Lafia, Nasarawa-Eggon, Akwanga, Toto and Nasarawa.
The targeted groups for the SARVE two project according to Atakpu includes, school children of ages 0-15years, youths within the age bracket of 15- 35 years, women and men from ages 36 and above.
