By Olayemi Esan
Defence Correspondents have been charged to use their media platforms and reportage to galvanize citizens support towards promoting national unity and peaceful coexistence.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor gave the charge on Tuesday in Abuja, while declaring open a one-day workshop for the Correspondents at the Defence Headquarters.
The event was organised by the Defense Headquarters in partnership with The Media Today (TMT) International.
With the theme, “The Role of Defence Correspondents in Enhancing National Security: Imperatives of Conflict Sensitive Communication,” the workshop was targeted at broadening the journalists' knowledge of understanding the nitty-gritty of sensitive conflict communication and resolutions.
Irabor who was represented by the Chief of Defence Administration, Rear Admiral Abdul Adamu also urged journalists to align themselves with media campaign strategies tailored at winning the populace in the operational theatres.
He noted that the manner in which conflict sensitive information is being processed and disseminated to the public could positively or negatively affect national security.
The CDS further explained that the training will facilitate needed discourse towards identifying viable media approach to support kinetic efforts in combating present and emerging threats.
He therefore assured the media that the military would continue to partner with the media to build a peaceful, harmonious and prosperous nation.
In his remarks, Deputy Director Defence Information (DDDI), Air Commodore Wap Maigida, said the complex nature of asymmetric warfare being fought by the military involves interplay of factors and actors, comprising of the media.
The DDDI further urged the media to carry out coherent activities with the military to achieve more feats in the theatres of operation.
According to Maigida, unpatriotic and negative reportage by the media over the years, have continued to distort military operations against insurgency, terrorism and more recently, banditry.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), TMT International, Barr. Charles Odenigbo on his part, urged media organizations and institutions to dwell more on investigative reporting to expose activities of terrorists.
Odenigbo also enjoined journalists to remain committed their duties in line with the code of ethics guiding the profession such as fairness, objectivity and balanced reportage.
The lead paper titled, “The Role of Defence Correspondents in Enhancing National Security: Imperative of Conflict Sensitive Communication” was delivered by Prof Abiodun Adeniyi, Head of Mass Communication Department, Baze University, Abuja. Commander AB Ayi, delivered the second paper on the Overview Military Terminologies.
While the Defence Editor, Blueprint Newspaper, Mr Jibrin Ndace and Dr Theophilus Abbah, former Editor Sunday Trust, delivered the third and fourth papers on the Challenges of a Defence Correspondent and The Journalist Code of Ethics, Conflict of Interest and National Security.
The moderators during the interactive sessions were: former Director Defence Information (DDI) Major General Chris Olukolade (rtd) and Mr Dayo Ayetan.
The panelists include: DDI Maj Gen Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr, Dr Okey Ikechukwu, Mr Gbenga Aruleba, Mr Yushau Shuaib and Mr Ben Okezie.
