World Press Freedom Day: Ghent University Lecturer Urges NIJ to Equip Students with Environmental Reporting Skills

A lecturer at Ghent University, Belgium,  Dr. Nureni Bakanne has charged the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) and other journalism schools across Africa to equip students with environmental reporting skills.

Dr. Bekanne disclosed this on Friday while delivering a virtual lecture on the 2024 World Press Freedom Day convened by Co-Lead, Journalism Education and Trauma Research Group (JETREG), Africa Hub, Dr. Qasim Akinreti and Head of Department, General Studies, NIJ, Mrs. Maureen Popoola at the monotechnic’s auditorium in Ogba, Lagos.

Bekanne speaking in line with this year’s theme, ‘A Press for the Planet: Journalist in the Face of Environmental Crisis’, emphasised the significance of environmental reporting skills and the need for experts in tertiary institutions who can impact the students with the right knowledge.

He enjoined lecturers to expose students to the terminologies, dangers and different specialties in environmental reporting, maintaining that there are a lot of areas they can venture into.

“In environmental reporting, we have biodiversity, pollution of various kinds, natural disaster, renewable energy, water resources and more and we need to make students know them. We should focus on these areas before they go on to practice. Failure to do this is why they face a lot of hazards when they get to the field,” the lecturer said.

He encouraged media organisations to provide trauma support materials while hiring reporters and regular trainings, adding that “what is applicable last year may not be applicable this year”.

Dr. Bekanne highlighted the importance of mentors to environmental journalists – and reiterated the need for insurance in order to protect them and their families.
He stated that insurance cover is an encouragement that makes journalists more effective at work.

“United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) report revealed that 70% of environmental journalists have been attacked in the course of their jobs and 759 reporting environmental issues have been attacked in the last 15 years, including Nigerian reporters,” he added.

According to Dr. Qasim Akinreti, World Press Freedom Day is a day of expectations for journalists in terms of reviewing practices and challenges faced over the years.

Akinreti said that it is also an opportunity to appreciate the tremendous role of journalists especially in holding government officials accountable and seeking transparency.

“For those in power, they don’t like journalists because they say it as it is and because of this, journalists have to pay the sacrifice. People have the right to know and as journalists, we have to let the public know,” the Co-Lead of JETREG explained.

Commenting on the theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, Dr. Akinreti, who doubles as the Deputy Director of Digital Media, Voice of Nigeria (VON) said: “Journalists have been talking about climate change and dangers of the environment for years but people were not paying attention. The onus is on all of us to keep our environment safe and make it conducive for everyone.”

He called for improved welfare and safety of journalists – and also condemned the intimidation of journalists across the world.

Similarly, Higher National Diploma (HND) 1 student of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Macyoung Tochukwu Blessing stated that journalists and their families are not safe in Nigeria.

Blessing appealed to the Nigerian government to deploy means of protecting journalists.

She charged journalists to always discharge their duties without any form of bias irrespective of the issue.

The broadcast student highlighted funding as one of the major challenges faced by media organisations and journalists in Nigeria.

She revealed that the problem leads to unethical practices by both journalists and media outlets, thereby the noble profession.

Other speakers are the Lead, JETREG Africa Hub, Prof. Dele Odunlami; Lecturer, University of Lincoln, United Kingdom (UK), Prof. Ola Ogunyemi and Environment correspondent, Dr. Esther Omofariola.

Dignitaries present at the programme include Provost, NIJ, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye; Immediate past Deputy Provost, NIJ, Dr. Dele Omojuyigbe; Head of Department, Mass Communication, Mr. Mike Osuji; Head of Department, General Studies, Mrs. Popoola Maureen; Lecturers, Mr. Cami Ezenwa, Mrs. Okoh Christiana, Mr. Anthony Oligbo and students of the institution.