11/08/2026
Prof Usman Tar Charges Information Officers to Promote Peace Through Responsible Reporting.
..Empowers them with Conflict-Sensitive Reporting Skills
The Borno State Ministry of Information and Internal Security has organised a two day training workshop on Community Based Conflict Sensitive Reporting for Information Officers drawn from Ministries, Departments and Agencies across the state.
The training, which held from Tuesday 11th to Wednesday 12th August 2026 at the Women Development Centre Auditorium opposite the Borno State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri, brought together information managers, media practitioners and senior government functionaries in a collective push to strengthen professional and peace driven communication across the state.
Delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony, the Honourable Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman Alhaji Tar, who was ably represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Aminu Barde Chamalwa, described the workshop as a pivotal moment for the information community in Borno State. He noted that information officers occupy a unique and vital position because their work resonates at the heart of communication, influencing perceptions and shaping narratives, particularly in times of conflict.
According to him, the words of an information officer carry the power to heal or to harm, to escalate or to de-escalate tensions, stressing that conflict sensitive reporting is not just a practice but a responsibility that must be embraced with the utmost professionalism. He explained that through accurate, fair and nuanced reporting, information officers can contribute meaningfully to social cohesion, inform policy decisions and empower community resilience.
The Commissioner further urged participants to always remember that behind every event lies a human story, and to therefore approach reporting with empathy, contextual awareness, inclusive storytelling, responsible language and a deliberate effort at fostering dialogue among Ministries, Departments, Agencies and community members. He reaffirmed that the stories told by information officers must go beyond reflections of strife to also capture narratives of hope, inclusion and reconciliation.
He commended participants for their dedication, enthusiasm and willingness to learn, and charged them to apply the knowledge gained at their various places of primary assignment.
Delivering a goodwill message, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Borno State on Media, Malam Dauda Iliya, described the workshop as timely, coming at a period when Borno State continues to record significant milestones across various sectors in its post insurgency recovery drive after nearly two decades of the Boko Haram conflict.
He commended the Ministry for organising the training in partnership with the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri, and assured the Ministry of the continued backing and support of the Governor's Media Team in similar capacity building engagements. He noted that under the visionary leadership of Governor Zulum, Borno State has transitioned from the harrowing days when Internally Displaced Persons were confined to makeshift camps to dignified resettlement housing, from clustered classrooms to state of the art mega schools, from inadequate healthcare infrastructure to functional health facilities, from a limited road network to cutting edge infrastructure, and to a transformed agriculture and livestock sector, among other achievements.
The Special Adviser recalled that only a few days ago, Maiduguri hosted a High Level Retreat of Nigerian Ambassadors and Diplomatic Representatives from the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin region, where the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, lauded the courage and visionary leadership of Governor Zulum and the resilience of the people of Borno.
He quoted the Minister as saying, "Today, Maiduguri represents a remarkably different narrative, one of resilience, courage, recovery and renewed hope. It stands as a compelling testimony to the transformative impact of visionary leadership, the resilience of the people of Borno, and the sacrifices and unwavering commitment of the government to pursue sustainable development despite daunting challenges."
Malam Iliya urged the officers to familiarise themselves with landmark policy documents of the administration, including the Borno State Twenty Five Year Development Plan and Ten Year Strategic Plan Initiative, the Borno Model for Peace, Reconciliation and Development, the Borno State Strategy for Durable Solutions to Internal Displacement, the Transitional Justice framework on the Changing Conflict Context in Borno State, and the Borno State Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan. He charged them to align their reporting and content with the priorities and policies of the administration.
As the country approaches the 2027 General Elections, the Special Adviser called on information officers to uphold the highest standards of professionalism by verifying information before publication, countering misinformation and fake news, and refraining from disseminating content capable of undermining peace, security and social cohesion. He expressed confidence that the calibre of resource persons assembled would sharpen the skills of participants on conflict sensitive communication and information management, and wished all participants a productive and rewarding workshop.
Also speaking at the event, the Senior Technical Assistant on Information and Internal Security, Honourable Konto Zaji, reinforced the message of collective responsibility among information professionals. He described the workshop as a promotional moment for the profession and an opportunity to enhance the role of information officers in facilitating communication that promotes understanding and peace across communities.
He reminded participants that in moments of conflict, mistakes can be costly, and that words carry the power to heal or harm and to escalate or de-escalate tensions. He encouraged them to embrace contextual awareness, inclusive storytelling that reflects diverse and often marginalised voices, responsible use of language that avoids inflammatory expressions, and the fostering of genuine dialogue among Ministries, Departments, Agencies and community members. According to him, information officers must remain agents of positive change whose reporting nurtures hope, unity and reconciliation.
In his remarks, the General Manager of Borno Radio and Television, BRTV, Alhaji Ali Mamman Shuwa, who was represented by the Manager of Marketing, Muhammed Zanna, described the workshop as timely and relevant to the current realities of the state. He expressed confidence that the training would equip participants with the key knowledge, human capacity development and professional skills required to communicate effectively on peace building efforts across Borno State and beyond.
The two day workshop attracted information officers from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Borno State Government, alongside seasoned resource persons drawn from the academia and the media industry, all united by a shared commitment to advancing responsible, ethical and peace promoting communication in the state.
Directorate of Information,
Ministry of Information and Internal Se Security, Borno State
