By Jonathan Lois, Minna
The Governor of Niger State, Muhammed Bago, has urged the Nigerian media to show greater interest on issues concerning climate change.
He made the call at the opening ceremony of the 2023 retreat of the House of Representatives Press Corps, holding in Minna, Niger State.
Bago noted that disasters brought about by climate change are under reported by the media and called for greater interest to project the negative impact of the global issue.
He opined that the media are not adequately equipped to handle the issues, empathising on the need for journalists to acquire the necessary skills to mainstream climate change.
“This retreat could not have come at a better time since it precedes the first Green Economy Summit in Nigeria to be hosted by Niger State in a few days’ time.
“The theme of the retreat is germane to the intendment of the Summit because whatever we discuss and whatever resolutions arrived at, if the media do not convey such to the public, the essence would have been defeated.
“This gathering therefore can enable you set an agenda for the Legislature and indeed the Executive.
“I hope that at the end of this retreat, you will all be better positioned to inform, educate and enlighten the society on the implications of climate change.
“Do not concentrate on reporting politics alone, but also pay due attention to climate change because it directly affects human welfare and condition of living,” he stressed.
Gov. Bago, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Comm. Yakubu Garba, assured the participants that his administration is prioritizing climate change to mitigate natural and man-made disasters, through public awareness campaigns on preventive measures to save lives and reduce damage to property and infrastructure.
“As a former legislator, who spent 12 years at the House of Representatives, I had a fruitful relationship with the media because its criticisms kept me on my toes and helped spur me to do more for my constituents and the nation.
“Let me state without equivocation that I am not averse to objective media criticisms because they helped in bringing out the best in me,” hee said.
In his goodwill message, the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Niger State, Yakubu Mohammed Kolo, said that the media has been and still remains key stakeholders in the drive for better environment.
He noted that the retreat would ginger more enlightenment to the dangers of climate change to the world.
Also, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Binta Mammam, commended the media for brazing the journey to Minna despite negative narratives flying around.
The Chairperson of the Press Corps, Comm Grace Ike, said that the governor’s decision to organize the Green Economy Summit in the state was an indication that he was at home with contemporary developmental issues.
She accepted that it is the the responsibility of journalists, especially as parliamentary reporters, to communicate climate policies effectively to the public, as well as communicate the feedback of the people to the government.
While presenting his Keynote address, the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Muhammed, commended the media for the interest shown in mainstreaming Climate Change agenda.
There were paper presentations on ” The Media, the Parliament and Climate Change”, by Hon. Sam Onuigbo; “Effective Reporting of Green Economy; the Prospects and Challenges”, by Dr. Uche Anunne and “Reporting the Parliament in a Digital Era”, by Mr. Mboho Eno”.
The theme of the retreat was “The Role of the Media in Mainstreaming Climate Change Policies”
