The fragile nature of some regions in Nigeria cannot be overemphasised. One such region is the Niger Delta.
Located in south-south Nigeria, the Niger Delta region is one of the country’s resource-rich areas. Rich in vast oil reserves and diverse ecosystems (mangroves, swamps, and rainforests), it is also home to various ethnic groups, like the Ijaw, Ogoni, Kalabari, Itsekiri, etc.
However, what seems to be its blessing now looks like a curse. Despite its rich natural and human resources, the region faces significant challenges, including environmental degradation, poverty, violence, etc. This has made the area a complex hub of socio-economic and political issues.
To tackle criminality and violence and also promote peace in this region, some non-governmental organisations, like Search for Common Ground and its partners, the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), and Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN), embarked on a peace-building project founded by the European Union with the tag “A Community-Centred Approach to Transforming Violence and Criminality in the Niger Delta.”
The 18-month project, currently being implemented in 66 communities across 33 LGAs in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers States, seeks to foster inclusive community security approaches in addressing the drivers of violence and crime in the region.
To achieve this, SEARCH has embarked on different community engagement activities, including workshops and trainings for stakeholders, the most recent being the TV design and content creation workshop held in December 2024 in Warri, Delta State.
At the workshop held in Warri, some participants expressed gratitude for the project as it will help in changing the narrative.
“It’s been an amazing experience altogether. The reportage and the way the Niger Delta is perceived have always been negative. But what SEARCH has done has transformed my perception entirely,” one of the participants, Mr. Ogenemine, said.
“The workshop has helped to upgrade the standard of broadcasting in the Niger Delta,” another participant, Mr. Fidelis, said.
Speaking on the importance of the workshop, one of the facilitators, Ms. Folashade Sheye-Ojo, said that the narrative about the Niger Delta has not been encouraging.
“The workshop became important because we have noticed that the narrative about the Niger Delta in the media space has not really been encouraging. People tend to report the region as conflict-torn, violence-prone, and always portray the people as agitators.”
Ms. Sheye-Ojo, who is also the Mass Media and Information Management Officer, EU Niger Delta, added that they have been able to change the narrative.
“So, the workshop became very imperative so we can drive behavioural change messages and change the narrative, which we have been able to achieve. This was seen in the kind of media products that were worked on and produced by participants.”
Currently, there is an ongoing refresher training for journalists happening in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The training aims to reinforce the capacity of media actors to critically assess and address conflict narratives in a conflict-sensitive manner and to foster inclusive and fact-based media.
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