The Yobe State Government has trained 400 media actors on digital communication and community engagement, with Governor Mai Mala Buni CON approving a second batch of 400 participants to further strengthen media literacy and professional communication across the state.
The Governor’s approval was conveyed by the Secretary to the Yobe State Government, Dr. Mohammed Goje, who represented him at the Yobe Media Summit held in Damaturu under the theme, “Harnessing Digital Tools for Community Impact and Engagement.”
Dr. Goje said the training was designed to equip media actors and other communication practitioners with the skills required to effectively use digital platforms to inform citizens, promote government programmes, counter misinformation and enhance public engagement.
He urged participants to go beyond routine reporting of government activities and communicate the real impact of policies and projects on communities.
The governor also emphasized the need for accuracy, professionalism and responsible digital engagement, urging media actors to “communicate with facts and disagree without insult.”
He encouraged participants to develop expertise in key sectors, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, housing, commerce, security and youth empowerment, to enable them provide informed and credible communication on government policies and interventions.
He further called for stronger connection between digital communication and grassroots engagement, stressing that effective public communication must also involve listening to citizens and understanding the realities of people in wards, villages and communities.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Hon. Abdullahi Bego, commended Governor Buni for promoting media literacy and professional development in the state.
Bego explained that the Yobe Media Summit was an offshoot of the Arewa Media Summit held in Kano, following a recommendation by Dr. Goje, which Governor Buni approved.
He announced that the Governor had approved the training of another 400 media actors, particularly those who were unable to participate in the current programme.
The summit featured presentations by Dr. Musa Usman of the Faculty of Communication, University of Maiduguri; Dr. Lawan Cheri, Deputy Rector, Administration, Federal Polytechnic Damaturu; and Prof. Sheriff Almuhajir of Yobe State University.
The event was attended by the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Muhammad Lawan Gana; the Governor’s Domestic Personal Assistant, Mal. Hassan Shettima; General Managers of NTA, YTV, YBC, Sunshine FM and Wetland FM; representatives of the NUJ Yobe State Council; and other leaders of media-related organisations.
Delivering the vote of thanks, the Director-General of COYAPO, Bature Goniri, CNA, urged participants to be patient, mindful of their utterances on social media and respect dignity of one another.
He commended the efforts of the Governor Mai Mala Buni for focusing attention in building capacity of the young people especially on the positive usage of media platforms.
The participants were drawn from both mainstream media and media actors from across the 17 Local Government Aread of the state.
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