The current campaign period ahead of the 2023 general election should be explored by the media to draw attention to the travails of the indigenous people in Nigeria in order to put an end to them.
The Director, International Press Centre, IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, made the declaration on Monday in Abuja at a two-day workshop to train media practitioners on effective and impactful reporting of indigenous issues towards a national agenda for peace building and conflict prevention in Nigeria.
According to him, candidates should be made to answer questions as to how the problems of the indigenous people would be solved if elected.
He said town hall meeting and other fora should be organised where the indigenous people would meet candidates and express themselves on issues affecting them.
Arogundade emphasized that there was, generally, an urgent need for the media in Nigeria to come to the aid of Indigenous people otherwise their suffering would be in perpetuity.
He pointed out that despite the pains the indigenous people go through, not much attention is given to them by the media and little is known about their plight.
He said in order to draw the attention of the government, organisations and individuals to the plight of the indigenous people, the media should give their issues some prominence and not tucked away.
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His words: “The media should factor their issues into the performance of its main functions particularly in this critical electioneering period. What are they and how? Relay the information citizens require to enable them to make informed judgments.”
The IPC boss added that the media should monitor government and others and reveal abuses of power as they might relate to indigenous people.
Other suggestions, according to Arogundade, included the provision of public education, enlightenment and entertainment.
He added that the media could also provide avenues for public debate on the issues affecting the indigenous people.
The two-day workshop is organised by the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education, CHRICED, in conjuction with Journalist for Democratic Rights, JODER; International Press Centre, IPC, and MacArthur Foundation.
