Correspondents’ Chapel, GPFN, Kaduna Govt Train 30 Journalists On Peace Reporting
By Austine Agbo Emmanuel
Kaduna.
Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, in collaboration with the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN) and the Kaduna State Ministry of Information, has trained 30 journalists on peace reporting.
The one-day workshop, held in Kaduna on Wednesday, focused on strengthening journalists’ capacity for conflict-sensitive reporting and promoting the Kaduna Peace Model as a practical framework for dialogue-driven conflict resolution.
Country Director of the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, in his address, described the media as a powerful instrument for healing divisions and shaping public perception.
He explained that the Foundation’s guiding philosophy, “One Family Under God”, underscores unity and shared values, urging journalists to deploy their platforms in fostering hope, tolerance, and mutual respect among Nigeria’s diverse population.
“The media must be a bridge, not a barrier. Every story of peace you tell helps shape public perception and strengthens our shared humanity. I urge you to use this workshop to enhance media participation in peacebuilding, social cohesion, and national development,” Hayab said.
In his remarks, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Information, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, described the media as a strategic partner in sustaining peace and building public confidence in governance.
Maiyaki noted that the Kaduna Peace Model, introduced under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani, has shown that dialogue and negotiation can yield lasting results in the state’s security management.
“You cannot bomb peace into existence; you must build it with trust,” he stated.
According to him, more than 500 kidnapped victims have been safely released across the state through non-kinetic approaches that prioritise communication, intelligence sharing, and community engagement.
The commissioner added that the government has continued to reintegrate vulnerable communities into the peace process, leading to the reopening of schools, markets, and healthcare centres in areas previously affected by conflict.
Delivering a lecture on “Media as a Shield for National Growth”, the Head of the Department of Strategic Communication and Media Studies at Kaduna Polytechnic, Dr. Fatima Shuaibu, said the media carries both constitutional and moral responsibilities to promote peace and national stability.
She explained that journalists possess the power to either de-escalate or intensify social conflicts through their framing of issues and therefore must uphold ethical restraint, balanced sourcing, and continuous professional development in conflict-sensitive communication.
“When journalists report conflicts responsibly, they reduce tension, protect lives, and strengthen governance. But when they sensationalise or take sides, they become part of the problem rather than part of the solution,” she said.
Dr. Shuaibu further encouraged newsrooms to adopt editorial policies that institutionalise peace journalism, promote fact-checking, and sustain dialogue-based narratives, stressing that lasting peace is anchored on responsible media practice.
Earlier in her remarks, the Chairman of the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel, Kaduna State, Hajiya Maryam Ahmadu-Suka, said the workshop was organised to equip journalists with the skills to report conflict issues with precision and sensitivity.
She commended the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria and the Kaduna State Government for their partnership, describing the initiative as a model of collaboration between civil society, the media, and government in promoting peace and national security.
