The Nation Newspaper

Tag: JODER

  • JODER trains journalists on diversity reporting

    Journalists for Democratic Rights, (JODER) will tomorrow (Monday) organise a diversity training programme for no fewer than 30 journalists drawn from electronic, print and social media.

    A statement by the JODER Executive Director, Mr Adewale Adeoye, said the training holding in Lagos will improve the quality of media coverage of diversity. The training is with the support of the New York-based Institute for International Education as facilitated by the Ford Foundation, West Africa Regional Office.

    JODER in a statement said, “Nigeria is a rainbow nation with a lot of diversity in culture, minority issues, religion, ethnicity and values. These breed a conflict of interest with far reaching consequences on information dissemination for a media that appears to be equally polarised.”

    The training is aimed at improving the journalists’ coverage of diversity, enhance capacity building and facilitate greater access to the mainstream media by vulnerable groups.

    It is to hold at Elomaz Hotel, Immanuel Street, off Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Maryland, Lagos from 9am.

     

  • ‘Ethnic nationalities must dialogue for peace to reign’

    ‘Ethnic nationalities must dialogue for peace to reign’

    ETHNIC nationalities must dialogue for lasting peace in the country, this was the crux of the discussions at a two-day workshop on peace building in Lagos.

    The workshop, which was organised by the Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER) was tagged : ‘Building Inter-Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria’.

    It was attended by ethnic nationalities from Lagos and Ibadan axis. Human rights activists, such as Campaign for Democracy (CD) President Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, Col. Tony Inyam, Comrade Femi Obayori, Prince Goodluck Obi, Abubarkar Kudu and Comrade Gbenga Awosode also attended the workshop.

    The Executive Director of JODER, Wale Adeoye, said the socio–political and inter-ethnic unrest in the country necessitated the dialogue between all ethnic nationalities.

    Adeoye said when strong affinity exists between these groups, it will be difficult for external bodies like politicians to use members of the groups to cause chaos and fan ethnic hatred especially during elections.

    “Though the nation is sanctified with natural and human resources, poverty remains the grim picture of our nationhood. Since independence, Nigeria has been bedeviled by leaders that lack a national vision that command national status without religion or ethnic colouration,” Adeoye said.

    Adeoye said there have been more than 200 cases of ethnic related violence since 1999 in Nigeria with more than 10,000 Nigerians dying. He said following social unrest caused by the Boko Haram insurgents in the North, Nigeria has also been listed as a troubled zone haunted by terrorism of all form.

    “The purpose of this conference is to reenact hope in a despairing population; we are here to put a stop to the orgy of violence through our own ingenious ways of conflict prevention mechanism, “Adeoye said.

    Also speaking at the event, Executive Director of Women Arise, Dr. Joe Odumakin who spoke on consequences of ethnic violence on women and children lamented that while ethnic warriors perpetuate various unrests, the vulnerable group including women and children suffer the most. Quoting copiously from different war zones around the world, Odumakin said Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities must do their best to shun violence and war.

    “There must be a change of mindset; no one should allow ethnicity and religion to cause strife. Ethnic violence breaks down trusts and destroys the fabric of the family. The women and children suffer the most of the consequences which is why religious and ethnic violence must be stopped through the use of constructive engagement.”

    Other speakers at the event also called for peace among the various ethnic nationalities while urging the members to resist being used by politicians to achieve their selfish ends. Abubakar Kudu, Secretary, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) said:

    “The crisis in Nigeria is fuelled by the government, they know how to start it but they do not know how to end it, politicians are our problem in Nigeria and the various ethnic groups must see themselves as brothers because that is what we really are.”

    Obi, who is the Chairman of the Ohaneze Youth Council, Lagos State branch, said investment in education, food security, youth employment and tolerance can help build a peaceful society.

  • Leaders of ethnic groups promise peace in South West

    ABOUT 200 leaders of various ethnic groups in the South West have promised to work together to ensure a peaceful co-existence in the region.

    The leaders who met under the auspices of the Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER) with the support of the United States group, the Ford Foundation, interacted for two days in Lagos after which a working group was established to create the mechanism for sustainable peace in South West.

    The organisers said it was the first time that the leaders of the ethnic groups in the South West begin to work together out of their own volition rather than at the instance of political interests.

    The keynote speaker, Prof. Ayo Olukotun, said the conference was imperative at this critical moment in Nigerian history when the nation is facing the challenge of unity and harmony.

    Speaking at the event, the JODER representative, Mr. Adewale Adeoye, said the conference was significant, coming as Nigeria inches close to the 100 years of her creation by the British.

    He said the country fought a civil war that could have been avoided, adding that irrespective of the political challenges confronting the country, the citizens must collectively say no to violence, hate and killings propelled by ethnic prejudices.

    Speaking on behalf of the civil society, Mrs. Joe Okei-Odumakin said ethnic conflict in the country usually leaves behind bloody footprints on women and children, saying that an interactive meeting of the ethnic leaders would go a long way to re-enact the spirit of brotherhood.

    She said, “It is the first time the leaders of ethnic groups are coming together out of their own free will to establish a workable framework for peace and harmony in Nigeria’s densely populated region.”

    A leader of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Kudu Abubakar, said that poverty has contributed to ethnic violence in Nigeria.

    Over 100 groups participated at the conference.

  • Group holds forum on ethnic harmony

    THE Ford Foundation and one of Nigeria’s media groups, Journalists for Democratic Rights, (JODER) is to hold a two-day conference aimed at strengthening ethnic harmony and sustainable livelihood.

    The conference is billed for Tuesday and Wednesday, December 17-18. A statement by a JODER official, Adewale Adeoye describes the conference as a “people’s initiative” aimed at promoting greater understanding in Nigeria’s multi-ethnic society.

    Over 100 leaders of ethnic groups and strategic institutions in Lagos and Ibadan corridors are the target audience of the two day summit. The second day will be the meeting of the Working Group on ethnic relations in the South West area.

    The summit is to adopt strategic approach in addressing threat analysis, institutions of sustenance, endangered national assets, weak underbelly and options for peaceful co-existence.

    According to the organisers “peaceful coexistence is critical to growth and regional stability. Nigeria has witnessed series of unending crisis fuelled by ethnic discord which in one unfortunate instance led to a 30-month civil war. In reality, ethnic propelled dispute is a recurrent decimal in Africa’s political history.”