Executives of media organizations in Kaduna, North West Nigeria have indicated their readiness to support and fully participate in the 2019 Africa Conference on Development Journalism.
Tagged “Africa Conference on Development Journalism”, the 3-day conference is scheduled to hold in Kaduna, Nigeria, between December 10 -12, 2019.
Receiving a team from Africa Media Development Foundation, (AMDF), organiser of the conference on a courtesy visit, Head, News and Current Affairs DITV/ Al-heri Radio, Mallam Shaibu Gimi, praised the organisation for championing the conference.
The conference, he observed, would set the pace for practitioners to engage in the discuss on development journalism for the well-being of the society.
Mallam Gimi said it was disturbing to note that media in Nigeria which supposed to be in the fore front of setting agenda for discuss had abandoned their responsibility for politicians.
He therefore stressed the need for the practitioners to discard muckraking journalism typified by sensationalism, ethnic and regional divide and embrace development Journalism for the well being of the society.
Earlier, the Co-ordinator, Africa Media Development Foundation, (AMDF) Mrs. Sekyen Dadik had briefed the management of the station on the conference. The conference, she explained, would create an avenue for exchange of ideas in addressing current and emerging issues facing development journalism as well as creating a community of learning that would support that growth and development in Africa.
Mrs Dadik informed the management that responses to participate in the conference from within and outside Nigeria were encouraging, hence the need for the station to be appreciative and enthusiastic about the conference, the first of its kind in Africa.
At the Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, AMDF was given a pat on the back for their vision in taken journalism to another level not only in Nigeria but beyond.
Secretary of the Council, John Femi who stood in for the Chairman promised the organisers that apart from participation, members would be mobilized to publicize the conference using all platforms.
The Chief Executive Officer, Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) Mr. Iliya Kure had earlier briefed the Council on the conference which will create a platform for Journalists to explore the place of development journalism in achieving the sustainable development goals of the United Nations.
He reminded the Council that previous conferences were centered on Media Africa but because of the place of development, there was the need to enlighten Journalists on the importance of development journalism hence the change of the name of the conference.
Mr. Kure disclosed that the conference would feature lot of talks, panel discussions, workshops and networking among others.
