The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), in collaboration with UNICEF and the Imo State Government, is organizing a two-day workshop aimed at enhancing the media’s role in driving regional development. Scheduled for October 23-24, 2024, in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, the event emphasizes the critical function of the media in addressing the socio-economic, political, and environmental challenges facing Nigeria’s South-East and South-South geopolitical zones.
According to a statement signed by NGE President Mr. Eze Anaba and General Secretary Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the workshop will feature 50 participants, including senior editors and media executives from print, electronic, and online platforms, as well as Guild members employed by governments across the nine states of the South-East and South-South zones.
The editors highlighted the complex socio-economic and environmental issues in the region, such as high poverty rates, infrastructural deficits, environmental degradation, and socio-political conflicts. They believe that the media possesses the capacity to play a vital role in mitigating these challenges by raising awareness, informing the public about pressing issues, amplifying marginalized voices, and providing information on social services, policies, and programs.
In commending the collaboration with the Imo State Government and UNICEF, the NGE emphasized the media’s significant impact on socio-economic and environmental matters, including influencing public opinion and policy, mobilizing community action, providing platforms for marginalized voices, facilitating dialogue and debate, and holding power holders accountable.
To effectively engage with these challenges, the editors proposed strategies such as collaborative reporting, data-driven journalism, social media engagement, investigative journalism, and solutions-focused reporting. They believe these approaches can substantially contribute to addressing the region’s socio-economic and environmental issues.
Chaired by renowned mass communication scholar and Deputy Vice Chancellor of Paul University, Awka, Prof. Stella Okunna, the workshop will feature presentations from experts and stakeholders. It aims to equip participants with enhanced skills for engaging with and reporting on the socio-economic and environmental challenges in the region.
Additionally, the workshop is designed to empower media professionals to create narratives that address the needs of vulnerable populations, particularly children. By collaborating with UNICEF and other stakeholders, participants will spotlight child-focused issues that can significantly improve overall regional development outcomes.
The event, themed “The Media as Partners in Regional Development,” will be officially opened by Imo State Governor Senator Hope Uzodinma, with co-hosts including NGE President Eze Anaba and the Head of UNICEF Office in Nigeria, Ms. Cristian Munduate.