By Isah Hussein
Dangote Group of Companies in collaboration with Climate Africa Media Initiative and Center(CAMIC) has during a 2- day workshop enlightened journalists on the need for investigative reportage of issues impacting on the environment in order to ensure its sustainability
The 2-day interactive session which began on Monday at the Obajana Cement Complex, Kogi State, brought together virtually every section of the media, selected from 4 North Central States and the FCT, as well as, experts from various fields to brainstorm on how the media can engage in accurate and investigative reportage of issues concerning the environment and how to mitigate them.
Mr Aliyu Akoshile, Executive Director, Climate Africa Media Initiative Centre (CAMIC), while addressing participants at the workshop noted that some of the climate change impacts ravaging different parts of the world have shown that the earth is presently endangered.
It is therefore imperative he said, “that journalists and media organsiations prioritize environmental reporting to escalate climate awareness and promote mitigation initiatives being undertaken by companies like the Dangote Group.
“We must consider the the environment first in our news judgement and news slanting to ensure that climate change is effectively mitigated for the sustainability of our mother earth.
Nigeria he continued “is facing numerous environmental challenges, including deforestation, pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss but, these issues are however, often overlooked or given minimal coverage by the media”.
Mr.Akoshile described environment as a binding force for human activities and admonished journalists to integrate reporting the environment from the perspective of conducting investigative reporting of issues affecting the environment
“It is essential that we prioritize environmental reporting to highlight the urgency and importance of preserving our natural resources,” he concluded.
Also speaking during the training, is the Head of Sustainability at Dangote Cement, Pan Africa, Dr. Igazeuma Okoroba, who emphasized the need to live in harmony with nature as paramount because it provides us with everything we need to live.
She added that the environment is of very significant importance to Dangote Group, while highlighting some of the strategies and plans of the company for restoring areas, after limestone mining, which include planting of trees and other initiatives.
The General Manager, Human Resource at the Dangote Cement Company, Mr Adinoyi Haruna in his address expressed dissatisfaction on the coverage given to the environment by the media saying, that the environment had been largely under reported while he also tasked participants to broaden their knowledge on environmental sustainability and promoting it, because the media has very crucial roles to play in making environmental sustainability a way of life.
He stressed that enhancing environmental sustainability is a collective responsibility for everyone as no society could attain greater heights without a conducive environment.
According to him, “the company is deliberate in its commitment towards protecting and sustaining the environment, hence the introduction of cutting edge technology in trapping dust in the production of cement”.
Participants were at the end of the workshop conducted round the Dangote cement facility to observe cement production process as well as some of the measures in place for safeguarding the environment.
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