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A new initiative to strengthen the role of journalists in preventing and contrasting violent extremism has been launched to Abuja, with the interested parties that push the media to adopt sensitive reports to the conflict and avoid sensationalism that could feed insecurity.
The platform, known as the media in the prevention and contraction of violent extremism (MAVE), was presented to a construction of two days and round dialogues organized by the partnership against violent extremism (PAVE) in collaboration with the office of the National Security Consultant and the Actionaid Nigeria, with the support of the Global Community commitment fund (Gcerf).
The president of the Pavia Steering Committee, Jaye Gaskia, said that the struggle of Nigeria against extremism has requested an “whole society” approach where the media occupy a central place.
“Narrations moderate the behavior and journalism responsible and sensitive to conflicts is essential for prevention, de-Escalation and reintegration. The way we tell our national history counts. If we constantly choose sensationalism, we deepen and amplify fear. But if we raise the voices of resilience and highlight the peace initiatives, we can help build a more peaceful Nigeria,” said.
He explained that Pave is pursuing a three-track strategy: co-creation of state and local action plans on PCVE, operational of knowledge, innovation and hub of resources and institutionalizing the involvement of the media through the new Mave network. “The media are not just a channel of information; it is a force that can build resilience divisions or inflame. Through MAVE, we want to guarantee that media professionals have training, resources and networks to be reported in order to promote peace, cohesion and understanding,” he added.
Gaskia, which also presides over the knowledge of the PCve, innovation and the hub of resources, has said that the experience of Nigeria has shown that only the government’s efforts could not stem extremist threats. “No single actor – both government, civil society, community or private sector, can do it alone,” he underlined.
The national coordinator of Gcerf, Yetunde Adegoke, said that his organization has supported PCve interventions at the community level in Nigeria since 2016, with lessons that show that the basic solutions were more effective.
“As a donors, we can only be catalyst. What we can’t wait is to catalyze a very sustainable way to prevent violent extremism and build resilient communities. This is essentially what it is Gcerf,” he said.
He explained that while the pilot projects had produced results, attention was now on long -term sustainability.
“We cannot continue with only projects based on projects. That’s why we are investing in the flooring network. It aims to work with the communities of six geopolitical areas to design their solutions. We should not plan to be here forever. The question is: how can we create something sustainable that will grow and continue beyond our fun?
By giving a message of goodwill, Actionaid Nigeria warned that journalists must avoid consciously reporting that stigmatizes the regions or peoples. The coordinator of the Aliyu Adamu project, who represented the national director Andrew Mamedu, said that wrong portraits could strengthen dangerous stereotypes. “I’ve never been to Maiduguri, but years ago, due to the way the media have projected the city, I heard that everywhere Maiduguri was consumed by violence. Here are how powerful the media are: it can model the perceptions, accurate or not,” he said.
Adamu urged journalists to design solutions, amplifying the efforts to build peace and encourage social cohesion. “All over the world, some countries are unjustly judged unsafe due to the way they are reported in the media,” he added.
The safety analyst, the Senator Ireogbu, has also described MAVE as “the beginning of a movement to create a conscious environment of the media, which promotes solidarity and strengthens the role of the media in contrasting violent narratives”, underlining that PCve is distinct from anti -terrorism operations.
The organizers said that the event combined visibility with practical training. The first day characterized the flag ceremony, the messages of good will, a press conference and a dialogue that introduces the political framework of Nigeria and the national action plan on PCve. The second day was dedicated to training sessions on conflict sensitive journalism, a round table of the interested parties of the media at any time strategic discussions for the follow-up action.
