07/09/2020
As part of our efforts to ensure a conflict-free and peaceful society through alternative narratives, we, in collaboration with Development Initiative of West Africa (DIWA), held a two-day workshop on “Shari’ah Intelligence, Constructive Alternative Narratives and Ethical Journalism for Journalists in the North East,” which took place from Tuesday 1 – Wednesday 2 September, 2020 in Maiduguri, Borno State.
A total of 45 journalists – comprising of TV, radio, print, and online – were invited from Borno, Yobe and Bauchi states to attend the workshop and over 40 participated.
The workshop addressed 4 key themes, namely:
- Constructive Alternative Narratives
- Shari’ah Intelligence
- Ethical Journalism
- Peace and Humanitarian Journalism
Constructive Alternative Narratives
This topic uses the theme of the newly published DAAC book titled “Jihad Against Extremism and Violence: Alternatives to the Discourses of Extremist Groups” written by a group of Islamic scholars. The two-part session addresses the contemporary issues spread among some youths in Nigeria. It attempts to clarify all the cloudy areas around the faulty translation and interpretations of some texts Qur’an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) that are used in justifying violence. It uses the orthodox methodologies to clear misconceptions and misinterpretations around the texts usually quoted out of context.
Shari’ah Intelligence
How does a person detect and recognise misdirection and faulty fatwas (religious verdicts). This topic exposes participants to the basics of Usul (foundation of Islamic jurisprudence) and Maqasid (ultimate objectives of Islamic laws) as the critical thinking tools in the field of Islamic law and its application.
Ethical Journalism
Publicity is the oxygen of terrorist groups – the more spotlight they receive, the stronger they become! This session discusses two distinct but intertwined topics on media ethics: The challenges of reporting terrorism and how to avoid stereotyping in reporting. Media, by design, is where the public forms their positive or negative opinions on a particular group of people.
Peace and Humanitarian Journalism
Professional journalism is distant and cold! But to build peace in a conflict-stricken environment, journalism will have to take a humanitarian approach where the insurgents are suffocated and the victims are given a voice. This topic discusses the approaches journalist can take to facilitate the return of peace.
This is the first workshop for journalists of its kind and we hope to continue with similar workshops in the future.
Participants Testimonies
This is to remind us that this workshop is of great benefit to us in Borno and Yobe, as such we should utilize all that we have learnt for the benefits of our people. We need peace and bridges among the different faiths that God has given us and this workshop has given us literature that will help us to achieve peace. The resource persons were passionate about positive change in narrative about the people and their religion. It is our duty to keep in touch with them for a greater Borno and Yobe. We should endeavor to attend their future workshop at our own expenses because they have a lot to offer. It is a rare opportunity that you cannot find anywhere. The effort of the chairman should not be in vain as such we should engage him via telephone in some of our programmes be it News, Current Affairs or Programmes. Finally my I personally thank the chairman, the resource persons and the organising committee for impacting their wealth of knowledge in us. I will cherish this workshop. May I conclude by a quote from Richard Nixon former President of USA, who said: the greatest honour history can bestowed on an individual, is the title of a Peace Maker. Good Night.
…Tigad
We are indeed very grateful to the organisers and resource persons as we go back to our organisations with refreshed memories.
…Abubakar
Thank you organisers for reshaping our knowledge. It is my suggestion that you will consider organising an advance version.
…Umar