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From Obinna Odogwu, Awka and Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Ahead of the November 8 Gubernatorial Election in Anambra State, the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) have held a two-day stakeholders forum aimed at building the media capacity for credible and inclusive coverage of the poll.
The forum, held at Bon Hotel, Awka, was designed to strengthen the professional capacity, promote ethical and inclusive electoral coverage, and enhance multi-stakeholder collaboration toward credible, transparent, and peaceful elections in the state.
Attended by journalists, representatives of the security agencies, National Orientation Agency (NOA), and others, the forum was implemented under Component 4 (Support to Media) of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II) Program.
IPC’s Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, in his remarks, said that the event was organised to strengthen the capacity of media practitioners to ensure ethical, inclusive and professional reportage of the forthcoming governorship poll in the state.
Arogundade, who emphasised the important role of the media in ensuring fairness and transparency in electoral processes, said that journalists could help to ensure accountability in the electoral processes; and through that way build voter confidence in the elections.
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“The Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage and the Electoral Act, mandate all stakeholders including the government, INEC and security agencies to create an enabling environment for journalists to operate freely and safely”, he added.
The IPC’s boss, who expressed sadness over the attacks on journalists in different parts of the country in the past while carrying out their legitimate duty, called on the security agencies to ensure the protection of media practitioners and every other person who would play a role in the forthcoming poll.
He encouraged journalists to use fact-checking tools to tackle fake news, misinformation and disinformation that would fly around during and even after the poll.
The Executive Director of CEMESO, Dr. Akin Akingbulu, on his part, advised journalists to go beyond the normal every day style of reporting and go deep down into various issues concerning the election with a view to promoting sound democratic norms in the state and the country at large.
Akingbulu, who described the forum as a convergence of collective purpose to strengthen truth, accountability and public trust in the November 8 poll, reminded the stakeholders that Nigerians expect so much from them.
Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state, Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, commended the IPC, CEMESO and their partners for investing in the professional growth of journalists in the state.
He described the training as timely and impactful; and assured that journalists would put every lesson learned to good use.
