Climate change: Dangote group moves to save environment, parleys journalists
In its move to ensure friendly and sustainable environmental practices, in order to mitigate the harmful effects of climate change, Nigeria’s foremost conglomerate, the Dangote group has organized a two-day workshop for journalists drawn from the six northeastern states in Yola.
Elaborating the rationale behind the group’s interest in promoting sustainable environmental practices, the Manager Media Relations of the conglomerate in the North, Jibrin Abubakar, said the environment is man’s most important asset which must be protected if man is to live in peace and harmony.
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He noted that in view of the challenges associated with climate change, his company deemed it imperative to parley all stakeholders including the government, citizens and journalists to ensure that best environmental practices are emplaced.
Abubakar noted that being the most critical stakeholders, the company deemed it fit to work hand in hand with journalists and media organizations to promote sustainable environmental practices for the good of all noting that the environment is the natures gift to man which must be decisively protected.
He urged the journalists to use the knowledge learnt during the two day event to ramp up advocacy towards best environmental practices.
In his presentation, a senior lecturer, Department of English, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Prof. John Ngamsa, urged journalists to invest in environmental journalism with all seriousness because the environment is mans only protective enclave.
Ngamsa noted that the climate change which is a consequence of man’s inimical practices to the environment has led to a number of pestilences including global warming, pollution, increase in advent of flooding, erosion et all noting that journalists must take the gauntlet to halt further drift in the interest of humanity.
He charged media operators to invest significant time and resources in order to write compelling stories that will prod the government and stakeholders to take necessary actions to save the environment and also do the necessary follow ups on such reportage.
Ngamsa, applauded the organizers of the event for their concerns and proactive moves to save the environment urging participants to appreciate the gesture by coming up with intuitive reports that will prod the policy makers to initiate friendly environmental practices.
Also in his presentation entitled “Journalism and Climate Change” the Executive Director, Climate Africa Media Initiative and Centre (CAMIC), who is also the publisher of Nature’s news, Mr.
Aliu Akoshile, described journalists as critical stakeholders in protecting and preserving healthy environment.
He urged journalists and media organizations to make a detour from their lackluster approach to environmental issues considering the myriad of challenges bedeviling the environment as a result of man’s harmful practices.
Akoshile urged media organizations to create environmental desks and dedicate special content for the environment in view of its importance noting that if media organizations will create pages for politics, sports etc, there is greater need to dedicate pages to the environment because no human activity could thrive without a sustainable environment.
He called on the authorities to carry the people along while implementing environmental policies because according to him the laws are made to ensure the general good of the people not the other way around.
On his part, Dr. Shadrach Idi, a lecturer at Taraba State University urged journalists to redirect more energy into Investigative Environmental Journalism.
He noted that although there are inherent.challenges and even risks associated with the venture, there is need for journalists to put robust interest in the area because of its immense benefits to humanity.
Shadrach urged journalists to take advantage of institutions that promote friendly environmental practices to get funding to carry out serious Investigative Environmental Journalism for the good of all.
In his closing remarks, the Programme Manager CAMIC, Rasheed Yusuf, commended the facilitators and the participants and appealed to the participants in particular to effectively use what they have learnt.
