The Borno State Ministry of Information and Internal Security has trained information officers from Ministries, Departments and Agencies on conflict-sensitive reporting, urging them to use responsible communication to promote peace, social cohesion and reconciliation across the state.
The two-day workshop, held from August 11 to 12, 2026, at the Women Development Centre Auditorium in Maiduguri, brought together information managers, media practitioners and senior government officials for practical sessions on community-based conflict-sensitive reporting.
The training focused on strengthening the capacity of information officers to communicate responsibly in a state recovering from years of insurgency while ensuring that public information does not contribute to tension, misinformation or further conflict.
Delivering the keynote address, the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman Alhaji Tar, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Aminu Barde Chamalwa, described the workshop as an important intervention for the state’s information community.
Professor Tar said information officers occupy a critical position because their work influences public perceptions and shapes narratives, particularly during periods of conflict.
He stressed that the words used by information officers could either heal or harm communities, as well as escalate or de-escalate tensions.
According to him, conflict-sensitive reporting requires accuracy, fairness, context and empathy. He urged participants to approach their work with an understanding of the human stories behind events and to ensure that their reports contribute to dialogue and social cohesion.
The Commissioner also encouraged information officers to highlight stories of hope, inclusion and reconciliation rather than focusing exclusively on conflict and suffering.
Speaking at the workshop, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Borno State on Media, Malam Dauda Iliya, described the training as timely, particularly as the state continues its post-insurgency recovery efforts.
Iliya said Borno had undergone significant changes after nearly two decades of Boko Haram insurgency, pointing to developments in resettlement, education, healthcare, roads, agriculture and livestock.
He commended the Ministry of Information and Internal Security for organising the programme in partnership with the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri.
The Special Adviser also referenced the recent High-Level Retreat of Nigerian Ambassadors and Diplomatic Representatives from the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin region held in Maiduguri, where the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, reportedly described the city as a symbol of resilience, recovery and renewed hope.
With Nigeria preparing for the 2027 general elections, Iliya urged information officers to maintain high professional standards and verify information before publication.
He cautioned them against spreading misinformation, fake news and content capable of undermining peace, security and social cohesion.
He also encouraged the officers to familiarise themselves with key policy documents guiding the Borno State Government, including the Borno State 25-Year Development Plan and 10-Year Strategic Plan Initiative, the Borno Model for Peace, Reconciliation and Development, and the Borno State Strategy for Durable Solutions to Internal Displacement.
Other documents highlighted included the Transitional Justice Framework on the Changing Conflict Context in Borno State and the Borno State Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan.
Iliya said understanding these policy frameworks would help information officers provide accurate and informed reporting on government programmes and development priorities.
Also speaking, the Senior Technical Assistant on Information and Internal Security, Honourable Konto Zaji, described the workshop as an opportunity to strengthen the information profession and improve communication across communities.
Zaji reminded participants that mistakes in conflict situations can have serious consequences. He therefore encouraged them to develop contextual awareness, use language that avoids inflammatory expressions and ensure that their reporting reflects the voices of diverse and often marginalised communities.
He said information officers should see themselves as agents of positive change whose work can promote understanding, unity, hope and reconciliation.
Similarly, the General Manager of Borno Radio and Television, BRTV, Alhaji Ali Mamman Shuwa, represented by the Manager of Marketing, Muhammed Zanna, described the training as relevant to the realities facing the state.
He expressed confidence that the programme would strengthen the professional capacity of participants to communicate effectively about peacebuilding and recovery efforts in Borno and beyond.
The workshop brought together information officers from various MDAs of the Borno State Government, alongside resource persons from academia and the media industry.
Beyond improving reporting techniques, the training highlighted the wider responsibility of information professionals in communities emerging from conflict.
For Borno, where recovery, reconciliation and rebuilding remain central to public discourse, the way information is gathered, framed and disseminated can influence how communities understand both their challenges and their future.
The message from the workshop was therefore clear: responsible reporting is not merely about getting the facts right. It is also about understanding the consequences of the information being shared and ensuring that communication contributes to peace rather than deepening division.
