The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq has called for synergy with the Nigerian Media
She made the call during a two-day Communication Consultative Forum, a Media retreat organised by the Ministry, in Abuja.
According to her, effective communication is a viable tool in ensuring a coordinated humanitarian response.
She said the Consultative forum was organised to chart a course towards effective reportage of humanitarian interventions undertaken by the Ministry.
“Humanitarian crisis, disasters and social issues are complex in nature and therefore required the adoption of a coherent, cohesive and coordinated approach to tackle the communication complexities to multiple players and the public.
“In view of the important nature of the mandate of the Ministry as the arm of Government that is directly involved in the socio-economic well-being of millions of Nigerians, the need to continually deploy effective communication strategies and scale such engagements cannot be overemphasized.
“This will ensure that the impact of the Ministry’s interventions in the lives of those who receive them are properly projected and communicated through consistent interface and connection with Nigerians”
The Minister added that an effective communication strategy also provides an opportunity for feedback that is valuable in improving the programmes and interventions.
A Resource Person for the Forum, Major General Ibrahim Yusuf said there is a need for the Media to downplay the activities of insurgents and promote the achievements of the military In the fight against insurgency.
Major General Yusuf who presented a paper On ‘Counter Insurgency Operations; The Utility Of Strategic Communications As A Non-Kinetic Approach said the mandate of the military anywhere there is conflict, is to facilitate the work of the humanitarian community.
“The closer the people, Government and Armed forces are, the closer it is to winning the war against insurgency”.
Yusuf added that expansion of security, protection of the people and establishing governance at the grassroots level are key elements to winning the fight against terrorism.
PIAK
