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From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi
A Non Governmental Organization (NGO), the Civil Resource Development Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC) Nigeria, in collaboration with Community and Youth Development Initiative (CYDI) and Justice and Rights Initiative (JRI) have trained journalists on “Conflict-Related Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Prevention through Journalism.”
The 2-Day Media training workshop which held on October 29 & 30, 2025, in Enugu State, was organized under the project titled “Strengthening Capacity and Oversight on the Use of Human Rights Principles in the Prevention of Conflict-Related Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV)” being implemented in Benue and Imo states.
The project, supported by Ford Foundation, focuses on promoting human rights best practices in conflict and SGBV prevention.
The training is aimed to equipping media professionals and reporters from Benue and Imo states with skills and knowledge to grapple with the challenge of reporting conflict-related SGBV in a way that does not invites conflict, perpetuate gender stereotypes and inequality but informs and encourages public debate and preventive actions.
During the training, the facilitators urged journalists reporting conflict-related SGBV to prioritize survivors safety, wellbeing and profer solutions to their situations.
One of the facilitators, Mr Benjamin Mbakwem, who emphasized the role of the media in countering harmful narratives and promoting peacebuilding, said SGBV is a human right violation and urged journalists to expose violations and demand accountanility.
Mbakwem, who identified the media as key in creating awareness on the need to stop all forms of conflict-related SGBV, urged them to educate the public on human rights, available support for survivors, challenge harmful norms, promote survivors dignity through ethical storytelling, amplify survivors voices and prevention and peacebuilding efforts in their various communities.
He also advised newsmen to avoid languages that retruamatize survivors or expos them to public harm, and to always fact check their reports to ensure accuracy and avoid misinformation.
The Senior Programme Officer of CIRDDOC Nigeria, Mazi Jerry Udochu, said over the years, many organizations have focused on response but this is prioritizing prevention of the occurrence of SGBV. So we brought journalists from Benue and Imo states to equip them with the knowledge of SGBV advocacy and sensitization, especially on prevention.”
He called on government agencies and Civil Society Organizations to build a data base that will support accuracy and objectivity in conflict and SGBV reportage.
Earlier, the Project Manager of CIRDDOC, Pascal Anozie, explained that the decision to train the media was informed by the need to promote professionalism in reporting and strengthen the campaign against all forms SGBV in the society. He encouraged participants to give the training the attention it deserves and ensure they apply the knowledge in their daily reportage.
Some of the participants, Mr Joseph Kwaghdega, Gabriel Ordia, Deborah Dekaa from Benue, Lilian Awofeso and Davidson Nwosu from Imo states expressed their excitement to be part of the training and apprecited the organizers saying the knowledge gained will help them in reporting issues of Conflict-related SGBV in a more professional way.
