Sokoto: NGO trains Journalists on flood disaster reportage

Gbolahan Salman Sokoto

A non-government organization, Christian-aid has organized a capacity building training to working journalist in Sokoto State.

The workshop which is aimed at broading the insight of journalists on how to write a report on disaster especially flooding in the affected area.

The resource person who address journalists at the two day workshop, Mr George Ndukwu,  in his address advised residents of the state especially Goronyo and Rabbah local governments to observe the necessary precaution ahead of raining season.

George emphasize that media roles should be people centred approach, emphatic, reflect gender dimensions, avoid conflict of interest and adhere to humanitarian journalism.

Participants at the two day workshop were also taken through the rudiments of Community engagement, Strategies for increasing journalists’ access to information, News gathering/reporting skills and ethical/safety issues in Disaster Risk and Social Safety, DRaSS, reporting.

Other facilitators at the event are veteran investigative journalist, Aminu Mohammed and Adebola Adeeko, Programme Officers, Communications, Christian Aid.

Speaking earlier while declaring the training open, Christian Aid Country Director, Temitope Fashola, emphasized that journalists need to understand and disseminate critical information to safe lives during disaster, hence the training.

He posited that, many lives have been lost because people do not have the right information or take the right actions when disaster occurs.

Also speaking, Christian Aid, Senior Programme Coordinator – Disaster Management and Peace Building, Dr Fagbite Bamidele, remarked that, the organization between 2018 to 2020, covered and record successes in disaster risk reduction accros Kaduna, Plateau and Benue states.

He said, “Since August last year, we have been in Sokoto and Kaduna states, in consortium with COOPI. Our project focus in Sokoto, is on two flood disaster proned local government areas of Goronyo (Kwawaso and Goronyo communities) and Rabah (Gandi and Rabah communities.)

“Our project is put together with the element of social protection. While Christian Aid handle Disaster Risk Reduction, COOPI handles social protection element.”