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Report in best interest of children, stakeholders urge journalists

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Report in best interest of children, stakeholders urge journalists

Stakeholders in child rights protection have urged journalists to adhere to strict ethical guidelines that prioritise children’s safety, dignity, and welfare over the urgency of a story.

They made the call on Tuesday in Gombe during a two-day training on ethical journalism and child rights reporting for journalists in the North-East.

They called on journalists to avoid reports that harm or stigmatise children while covering related issues.

The training was organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Mr Nansel Nimyel, a facilitator, said the training aimed not only to amplify children’s issues but ensure responsible and ethical coverage.

Nimyel said reporting on children must always prioritise their best interests and safeguard their dignity and welfare.

He noted that children and adolescents deserved adequate media attention in spite of limited coverage of their issues.

He urged journalists to move beyond reporting by considering how stories are framed and the potential consequences of exposure.

He said: “A central concern in ethical reporting is avoiding further harm to children.

“Many featured children are already vulnerable due to trauma from conflict, abuse, or social challenges such as bullying.

“In such contexts, insensitive reporting can worsen suffering, causing re-traumatisation, stigma, or long-term psychological harm.

“The journalist’s role extends beyond information dissemination to protecting the child’s dignity and welfare.”

Another facilitator, Dr Jide Johnson, stressed balancing public interest with child protection in all reports involving children.

Johnson urged journalists to act responsibly in ways that protect children’s dignity and future.

Sussan Akila, a Communication Specialist with the United Nations Children’s Fund, urged prioritising children’s safety, well-being and development in reports.

Akila said journalists’ reports could either make survivors feel safe or expose them to further harm.

“It starts with the footage we capture of survivors within our communities affected by conflict.

“It also includes the photographs and headlines we use; they can either support or harm those affected,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at least 60 journalists participated in the training.

Report in best interest of children, stakeholders urge journalists

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Troops neutralise three terrorists after ambush on Miyanti-Banki route

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Troops neutralise three terrorists after ambush on Miyanti-Banki route

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of the 151 Task Force Battalion have neutralised three terrorists following an ambush on the Maiduguri-Miyanti-Banki Junction route in Borno State.

The incident occurred at about 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 1, when the troops, while conducting route-scanning operations along the major road, came under attack by terrorist elements.

According to sources, the terrorists initiated the attack with a concealed improvised explosive device (IED), followed by heavy volume of fire.

The troops fought through the ambush and subsequently launched an immediate exploitation operation against the attackers.

During the encounter, three terrorists were neutralised, while troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, 14 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and one concealed IED.

On the side of the troops, one soldier sustained injuries during the engagement and was evacuated to 21 Specialised Brigade Hospital, Maiduguri, where he is reportedly stable and receiving medical attention.

The attack also resulted in damage to the windscreen of one of the troops’ gun trucks.

The latest incident underscores the continued threat posed by terrorist elements along major routes in Borno State, particularly through the use of IEDs and ambush tactics against military patrols.

The military said the general security situation across the theatre remained calm but unpredictable, while troops’ morale and fighting efficiency remained satisfactory.

Troops continue to maintain offensive and route-clearance operations to disrupt terrorist activities and ensure the safety of civilians and motorists across the theatre.

Troops neutralise three terrorists after ambush on Miyanti-Banki route

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Governor Lawal woos investors, highlights Zamfara’s economic opportunities at CEO Forum

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Governor Lawal woos investors, highlights Zamfara’s economic opportunities at CEO Forum

Lagos, Sept. 1, 2026 — Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has called for stronger collaboration between government, businesses and investors to unlock private capital and drive inclusive economic growth in the state.

Lawal made the call while delivering a Special Policy Address at the 2026 CEO Forum organised by the Global Compact Network Nigeria in Lagos.

The forum, held under the theme “Financing a Dignified Future: Aligning Business Action, Policy and Capital,” brought together chief executives, senior government officials, industry leaders, diplomats, trade commissioners and international development partners.

Participants were drawn from key sectors of the economy, including oil and gas, energy, manufacturing, construction and infrastructure.

The governor spoke on the growing competition among states for increasingly selective private capital and the factors that could transform an economic opportunity into an investable proposition.

He explained how his administration was working to bridge the gap between available economic opportunities and investment, with emphasis on building investor confidence while ensuring that investments deliver meaningful outcomes for the people of Zamfara.

According to him, attracting investment requires more than identifying economic opportunities, but also creating the conditions, policies and partnerships capable of giving investors confidence to commit capital.

The forum provided a platform for business leaders, government officials and investors to examine ways of aligning business strategies, public policies and capital deployment to unlock productive investment.

Discussions also focused on identifying businesses, sectors and projects with strong potential but facing difficulties in accessing financing, as well as measures to make such opportunities more attractive to investors.

The organisers also introduced the concept of the “Dignity Dividend,” examining how investment-led growth could translate into better jobs, stronger businesses, increased productivity, local value creation and broader economic participation.

Another key component of the forum was the identification of actionable commitments and partnerships that participating institutions could advance over the next six to 12 months.

Notable speakers at the event included chief executives of First Bank Group, Access Bank, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Nigerian Exchange Group, Chellarams Plc, SecureID Group and Greenwich Merchant Bank Plc, among others.

The organisers said the session would culminate in a live showcase of the Business Value and Sustainability Platform (BVSP), described as a standing coalition of business, capital and policy actors designed to sustain the dialogue.

The platform is also expected to contribute to shaping Nigeria’s private-sector engagement during the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week.

The governor’s participation in the forum comes as Zamfara seeks to strengthen its economic base, attract productive investment and create opportunities that can support sustainable livelihoods and wider participation in the state’s economy.

Governor Lawal woos investors, highlights Zamfara’s economic opportunities at CEO Forum

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Buni declares open a two-day workshop for 150 media assistants in Yobe

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Buni declares open a two-day workshop for 150 media assistants in Yobe

By: Yahaya Wakili

Yobe State Governor. Mai Mala Buni, CON, COMNCOMN, has described the media assistants as an important link between the government, political leadership, and the people.

The governor revealed this today in Kano while declaring a two-day strategic communication workshop for over 150 media and photography aides serving in his administration.

Ably represented by the secretary of the state government, Dr. Ammed Goje. Governor Buni urged the media aides to communicate government policies and programs accurately and responsibly.

The governor charged them to uphold truth, credibility, and professionalism in public communication and also warned them against misinformation and reckless use of digital platforms capable of undermining peace and public confidence.

He further also cautioned them against using communication platforms for insults, misinformation, character assassination, ethnic profiling, religious incitement, and the deliberate spread of falsehoods. Governor Buni maintained that government achievements should be communicated based on verifiable evidence rather than manufactured claims.

“Engage in facts, defend government with evidence, correct misinformation with civility, and disagree without insulting to help protect the peace, unity, and social cohesion of Yobe State. Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information, and Culture, Hon. Abdullahi Bego, commended Governor Mai Mala Buni, COMNCOMN, for investing in the continuous capacity development of his media aides.

Bego further described the workshop as the second major capacity-building exercise organized by the governor’s media team within one year.

The commissioner maintained that the initiative reflected the administration’s commitment to strengthening professional communication.

He called on the participants to acquire relevant digital skills and use social media strategically and responsibly to communicate government programs and engage citizens.

Buni declares open a two-day workshop for 150 media assistants in Yobe.

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