The adoption of a development journalism approach allows for a more active collaboration with journalists and media organizations, enabling them to play a more effective role in promoting national cohesion and stability, thereby advancing Nigeria’s national interest.
The Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria, General Christopher Musa, stated this at a Roundtable meeting with Defence Correspondents and the Coordinator, National Counter-Terrorism Centre, NCTC, Office of the National Security Adviser, Major General Adamu Laka, in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The CDS emphasized military’s commitment to protecting the nation’s sovereignty through the practice of developmental journalism; specialized form of journalism that concentrates on the social, economic, and political advancement of the country.
He said in the area of defence beats, development journalism seeks to promote public awareness and understanding of defence as well as security issues, while holding governments, the defence sector and other stakeholders accountable for their actions as well as informing decision-making by policymakers and defence officials.
He stressed that “our national security cannot and should not solely be reliant on the strength of the Armed Forces of Nigeria rather it should be strengthened by Nigeria’s educated, healthy and socially cohesive population underpinned by development journalism.
“More so, the development journalism approach will not only require collaboration and dialogue among stakeholders, it will also focus on people centrism in the accomplishment of Nigeria’s national interest,” he added.
This approach according to General Musa "resonates with my leadership concept which is, “To nurture a professional Armed Forces of Nigeria that is people-centric, capable of meeting its constitutional responsibilities in a joint and collaborative environment,” he said.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris represented by the Director General Voice of Nigeria, Jibril Baba Ndace noted that beyond just reporting about security, reporters sometimes tends to talk about the military and other security agencies as if they are not their brothers and sisters or people who decided to take the path that some of us are afraid to take.
“And therefore I would like to plead with our colleagues that please, we have a responsibility as citizens of this country. Because you can’t even practice your trade if the country is not peaceful. And therefore we have a responsibility to support the armed forces and other security agencies who do their job,” he said.
The Minister urged the media to continue to support President Bola and the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies in the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Resources Person, Major General Chris Olukola, RTD, who presented a paper titled "National Security And National Interest: A Development Journalism Approach for the Defence Beat" highlighted the essence of the roundtable, as patriotic Nigerians, continue to work together to promote the culture of security awareness and collective responsibility.
“In an era marked by rising security threats, the role of journalists in shaping public perceptions and fostering national cohesion cannot be overstated. So reporting on the defence beat in a counterterrorism context demands a delicate balance between transparency and protection of national security,” he said.
He noted that development journalism, which emphasises nation-building, offers a constructive framework for journalists covering sensitive issues, such as counterterrorism and other security issues with them in our country.
Major General Chris Olukolade a former Director of Defence Information said the relationship between national security, national interest, and defence reporting is very complex and interconnected, with each influencing and shaping the other.
"National security and national interest serve as a critical framework for the work of defence reporting, while defence reporting plays a pivotal role in informing and shaping public discourse on policy issues. So this paper explores how a development journalism approach rooted in constructive engagement can enhance the reporting of national security and national interest, fostering a well-informed public discourse" He sated.
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