Dangote group of companies on Monday commenced the training of over 50 journalists on environmental sustainability with a charged to them to intensify effort in carrying out investigations in their reportage to address some salient environmental issues within their vicinity.
The journalists were drawn from Kogi, Abuja, Benue and Kwara State where the impact 2022 flooding was high.
Addressing the participants at Dangote Cement plant in Obajana, Kogi State,
the Executive Director, Climate Africa Media Initiative and Centre Aliu Akoshile lamented that the environment has not been given its proper place in the media space.
According to him , if the environment is not conducive, there would not be development, noting that in 2012, there was massive flood in Kogi State that rendered many people homeless, stressing that such disaster also repeated itself in 2022.
He noted that the media training which is being financed by Dangote group of companies is very serious as it will enable journalists to pay adequate attention to environment.
The media expert added that, the training will encourage journalists to appreciate the effort of Dangote group towards achieving environmental sustainability in Nigeria.
Speaking on the importance of the workshop, one of the management executive of Dangote group, Adinoyi Haruna described the environment as an important subject matter that should be concern of all and sundry.
He stated that Dangote group had prioritize the protection of the environment by ensuring that the emission from the cement plants are properly managed to safe the environment.
He described environmental sustainability as a way of life and charged media practitioners to rise up to the change of environment by dishing out reports that would greatly safe the environment.
“We need the environment more than the environment needs us. It is important we work assiduously to sustain our environment. We must do all we can to protect the environment. Journalists must commit themselves to environmental sustainability in order to make it safe for the people” he stated.
