The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq has called for more collaboration between the Media and the Ministry.
The Minister said this in Abuja, while declaring open a two-day workshop on “Effective humanitarian reporting” organised by the Ministry for its correspondents.
She acknowledged the important role of the media in educating, informing, creating awareness, sensitising and acting as the watch dog of the society.
“The media is one of the critical partners of the Ministry. Its role in the dissemination of the mandate, policies, activities, programmes and achievements of the Ministry to the public cannot be over emphasized”.
“In the humanitarian sector, the media plays a major role during emergencies and disasters by providing vital information to both the public and the government before, during and after the incidents.
“The media educates people about consequences, hazards and warnings on disasters and alerts government for rescue and interventions, hence the need for increased collaboration between the Ministry, humanitarian actors and the media,” she said.
Farouq emphasised that the mandate of the Ministry cannot be achieved without the partnership of key stakeholders, the media inclusive.
“We are partners in progress and I solicit your continuous cooperation in the dissemination of information on the activities and programmes of the Ministry to adequately sensitise, educate and inform the stakeholders and the public on humanitarian issues.
” I must state that this workshop was organised to expose you to the operations of the Ministry, the functions of the various departments and the modus operandi of National Social Investment Programme, NSIP for effective reportage of the humanitarian sector.
“It is expected that at the end of the workshop you will all be acquainted and well informed about the Ministry and the key humanitarian terms as well as how to effectively report humanitarian issues.
“It is obvious that the sector deals mostly with the vulnerable, poorest of the poor and persons with concerns in the society,” the Minister explained.
According to her, reporting humanitarian issues require special skills which the reporters are expected to become familiar with in the course of the workshop.
“I assure you that the facilitators with their wealth of experience in their different fields will do justice to the topics assigned to them. I enjoin all participants to learn as much as they can about the Ministry and the sector,” she stated.
While wishing the participants a fruitful engagement, the Minister urged all journalists covering the humanitarian beat to exhibit professionalism in their reportage and adhere to the ethics of the profession.
” Always verify information with the Ministry and balance your stories before going to the press,” she said.
Farouq added that the Ministry was ready to partner with the media to achieve its mandate.
Confidence Okwuchi
