UNICEF Trains Journalists on Effective Reporting of COVID-19 Pandemic

United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday in Kano trained 13 journalists on effective reporting of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chief of UNICEF Kano Field Office, Maulid Warfa, in his opening remarks, said the training became imperative in view of the great need for social and behavioural change of the people.

He explained that there was absolute need for sending the right message to people to minimize the spread of COVID-19 disease.

He further challenged the journalists on playing their role in massive sensitization against the pandemic.

In his remarks at the training, the state Epidemiologist, Dr Bashir Lawal, also tasked the journalists on factual reporting.

He said that the state needed strong collaboration with the media to communicate effectively to the people.

According to him, “Changing people’s behaviour is a collective responsibility because you are the ladder between us so you need to know what message to give them.”

Mr Rabiu Musa, the Communication Specialist for UNICEF Kano Field Office, also emphasized the need for journalists to widen their horizon and make in-depth research on issues.

He tasked them on being cautious with sensitivities associated with the pandemic, thus urging them to be updated about its dynamism.

A representative of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Mr Micheal Okali, called for synergy between the state Task force team on COVID-19 and the media in order to curtail the spread of the disease.

NAN reports that 13 journalists working in Kano were trained by UNICEF with support from the state government on effective reporting of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

The one-day training attracted journalists from various media outfits including The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Voice of Nigeria, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Radio France International and other online media.