Warri – A University don, Pofessor Daniel Kudaiyisi Olorunfemi of the Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology , University of Benin , has identified the key roles of the Media and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the sustenance of the environment.
Prof. Olorunfemi, was the guest speaker at the annual Conference of the Media and Civil Societies Advocacy, tagged” The Role Of The Media And CSOs In The Promotion of Sustainable Environment in the Niger Delta ” which held at the Africa for Peace Centre at the instance of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice ( CEPEJ ), Ugolor, near Warri, Delta State .
According to Prof.Olorunfemi, the mediaa plays a critical role in creating public awareness,advocacy, information gathering among others.
He opined that both the Media and the CSOs are the hope of the citizens adding that , government policies on environment often times are not implemented. He said it was the activities of the CSOs and media advocacy that can make the government to be alive to their responsibilities in helping to protect the environment.
Lamenting the lack of political will on the part of the government, he said , inspte of progress made in other parts of the world on access to clean and affordable drinking water, access to safe affordable water and sanitation remains a serous issue in Nigeria.
He tasked the media on the need to ensure that,they do not cover stories on the environment from the office emphasing that as journalists, they must go to the scene and see facts for tthemselves. , avoid scientific jagons, as well as keeping their reports simple.
The environmental mangement expert urged journalists to always double check their facts, use several sources, and seek support from people.
Speaking further, he said, journalists must ensure that they gather information from the grassroots levels, make an alternative source , avoid racy news but do more of features writing and the use of graphics in their reportage.
On the role of the CSOs in helping to sustain the environment, the varsity don said, the role of the Civil Society Organizations can not be overemphasized, as according to him the United Nations( UN) recognises them as major stakeholders. He said their roles of collection and dissemination of information, educating the citizens, policy making/adadvocacy , fighting for change on behalf of the community they serve were key to ensuring a better environment for all.
Prof. Olorunfemi reminded the CSOs that while carying out their role as watchdog in monitoring and evaluation government policies, they must lobbying mustlobby to push people’s concerns in regards to eenvironmental and mmanagement of natural resources.
In his welcome address, National Coordinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice ( CEPEJ ), Comrade Sheriff Mulade said highlighted the importance of the Media and Civil Society Organizations ( CSOs ) in the sustenance of Nigeria’a democracy.
According to him, the mmedia and CSOs are playing key oversight role in the defense and sustenance of our democracy.
” This is why it is most appropriate to promote an enabling environment for civil society and media initiatives such as dialogues at various levels designed to foster cooperation and trust between the non government civil societies and the media should be encouraged. ”
“Civil Societies and the media no doubt, have a critical role to play in building a culture of integrity in a volatile country such as Nigeria ours. However, civilsocieties in our country are seriously threatened by a contentions regulatory bill on Non-governmental Organizations. The bill which has passed the first and second readings is currently at the committee stage. The question is why is the bill generating controversy and why do critical stakeholders in CSOs want it dead? ”
Present at the event were, representatives of the Nigerian Union of Journalists ( NUJ ), led by State Chairman, Mike Ikeogwu; representative of Partnership Initiatives In the Niger Delta(PIND ), Mrs Oteheri Odjeni; Patners Peace in Delta State and Peace Community Empowerment Initiative, they also bore their minds on the successes and challenges they are facing in sustaining the environment
