BY FAIZA JIBRIN, MARCH 14, 2026 | 04:56 PM

Journalists in Borno State have been urged to adopt peace-focused reporting to help rebuild conflict-affected communities.

The call was made during a three-day workshop organised by United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Peacebuilding Fund and the state government, at the Borno State hotel.

Borno, still recovering from over a decade of insurgency that left countless dead, abducted, and displaced, particularly women and children, stands to benefit from such focused reporting.

The workshop, themed 'Strengthening reconciliation pathways for persons associated with non-state armed groups and communities of reintegration in NorthEast Nigeria,' highlighted the critical role journalists play in shaping public perception and maintaining peace.

International journalist and facilitator, Felis Mbah, stressed the importance of accurate and balanced reporting.

'Whatever journalists do impacts society. If reports are not accurate, they may end up creating more problems,' he said.

Mbah advised journalists to verify sources, cross-check information, and avoid reports that could escalate tensions.

He also encouraged reporting on reintegration stories, particularly those involving former fighters who have returned to civilian life.

Abdulkareem Haruna, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Borno State, said, 'For the past three days, UNDP organised this workshop to help journalists understand how to report post-conflict issues such as reintegration, dialogue, and peacebuilding. We were also trained on gender-sensitive reporting so that everyone has an equal opportunity to have their voices heard in the media.'

Participants, including Solomon Josiah of TV360 Nigeria and Rukayya Abubakar Othman, described the training as impactful and pledged to apply the knowledge gained to promote peace and reduce tension in their reporting.

The journalists also called on UNDP and other development organisations to organise more training programmes to strengthen their skills and improve access to credible sources and information.