In a significant capacity-building initiative, the Media in Cooperation and Transition (MiCT) organization, in partnership with the LIDA Network, has successfully trained one hundred and eighty journalists and youth communicators on critical aspects of modern journalism. The comprehensive training focused on ethical storytelling, rigorous fact-checking, understanding information disorder, and leveraging digital media for peacebuilding purposes.
Training Reaches Conflict-Prone Regions
The intensive program was conducted under the Media for Peace (PeaceCore) Project, specifically targeting media professionals and young communicators across three northern Nigerian states: Kaduna, Plateau, and Taraba. These regions have experienced various conflicts and tensions, making the training particularly relevant for fostering responsible reporting practices.
Addressing Modern Media Challenges
Speaking after the training, Lady Irene David Arinze, Founder of LIDA Network, emphasized the urgent need for journalists to ethically adapt to emerging technologies in news production. She highlighted how artificial intelligence is increasingly being utilized to spread misinformation, making it essential for journalists to understand these tools and apply them responsibly.
"Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to spread misinformation," Arinze stated. "Journalists must understand these tools and apply them responsibly to verify information, counter false narratives and report conflicts with sensitivity."
Three-Week Intensive Intervention
The three-week intervention forms part of the PeaceCore II Programme, which receives funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). This initiative is specifically designed to address the growing challenges of misinformation, hate speech, and conflict-insensitive reporting that plague many Nigerian communities.
Workshop Structure and Content
Each of the three states hosted a five-day intensive capacity-building workshop for journalists working across various media platforms, including print, broadcast, and digital media. The workshops concentrated on several key areas:
- Conflict-sensitive journalism
- Ethical storytelling techniques
- Advanced fact-checking methodologies
- Understanding information disorder dynamics
- Digital media applications for peacebuilding
Participants were also exposed to AI-supported verification tools designed to enhance responsible reporting practices in the digital age.
Measurable Impact and Outcomes
According to Arinze, the program achieved significant results, with more than eighty-five percent of participants reporting improved capacity in conflict-sensitive communication by the end of the training. Several media organizations represented at the workshops committed to strengthening their internal fact-checking mechanisms as a direct result of the program.
Participants noted that the program substantially enhanced their understanding of how unchecked narratives, harmful language, and false information can fuel tensions within communities. This awareness is particularly crucial in Nigeria's conflict-prone areas, where irresponsible reporting can exacerbate existing divisions.
Building Sustainable Networks
The project facilitated the formation of journalist networks to encourage continued collaboration, peer support, and story verification beyond the training period. These networks are expected to serve as platforms for ongoing professional development and collective action against misinformation.
Through the PeaceCore Project, LIDA Network has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the media's role as credible actors for peace, accountability, and social cohesion across Nigeria. The organization recognizes that well-trained journalists equipped with ethical reporting skills and modern verification tools can significantly contribute to national stability and development.
This training initiative represents a proactive approach to addressing the complex challenges facing Nigeria's media landscape, particularly in regions affected by conflict and misinformation.
