By Mercy Aikoye
The Africa Polling Institute (API) has called on journalists to champion social cohesion through responsible and evidence-based reporting, stressing that the media plays a critical role in shaping narratives that foster national unity, trust, and inclusion.
The call was made during a two-day workshop for media and policy executives in Abuja on Thursday, supported by the Ford Foundation. The workshop, themed “Equipping Media Practitioners as Champions of Social Cohesion Towards the Promotion of Responsible Journalism,” focused on strengthening journalists’ capacity to use data from the Nigeria Social Cohesion Survey in their reporting.
API Executive Director, Prof. Bell Ihua, described social cohesion as the willingness of citizens to cooperate for collective survival and prosperity. According to him, a cohesive society is built on a shared national identity, trust in institutions, social justice, and active civic participation.
He noted that Nigeria’s low voter turnout reflects the country’s social cohesion challenges.
“You have over 90 million registered voters, but on election day, only about 20 million come out to vote. It speaks volumes about the state of social cohesion in the country,” he said.
Ihua also linked insecurity, including kidnapping and mob justice, to weak social bonds and declining trust in public institutions.
“Why would a fellow citizen kidnap another and subject them to torture? Mob lynching also shows that many citizens no longer trust the judicial system,” he said.
He urged governments at all levels to implement policies that promote inclusion, fairness, and national unity, arguing that growing separatist agitations are symptoms of weakened social cohesion.
“Government needs to introduce public policies that build love, inclusion, and a sense of belonging among citizens,” he added.
The API boss announced that the fifth edition of the Nigeria Social Cohesion Survey, which has been conducted annually since 2019, will be unveiled on June 25, 2026.
“We visit every state and every senatorial district to gather this data, which helps us track trends and assess whether policy recommendations are achieving the desired impact,” he said.
Speaking on the role of the media, Ihua described journalists as “burden bearers” whose reports significantly influence public perception and national discourse.
He also expressed concern over widening inequality, noting that the growing gap between the rich and the poor threatens social stability.
“Social cohesion is what will help bridge that gap,” he said, while lamenting the weakness of existing social safety nets and the limited impact of government interventions at the grassroots level.
Also speaking, social policy expert, Dr. Olusoji Adeniyi, urged journalists to avoid ethnic profiling and stereotypes in their reports.
“We need to avoid situations where we assume that certain groups are responsible for particular crimes or social problems,” he said.
Adeniyi cautioned against the use of labels such as “Fulani herdsmen” and “unknown gunmen” without proper verification.
“Criminalise the act, but humanise the process. Criminals are criminals regardless of their ethnic or religious background,” he stated.
Development expert, Odoh Diego Okenyodo, stressed the need to improve journalists’ welfare, arguing that better remuneration would strengthen ethical reporting and reduce susceptibility to inducements.
“If journalists are properly taken care of, they will be better positioned to produce patriotic and development-oriented stories,” he said.
Okenyodo also encouraged journalists to diversify their skills by offering services such as policy analysis, documentary production, and strategic communication.
“Don’t resign from the jobs you are in. Let those jobs serve as your advertisement platform while you build additional professional value,” he advised.
