The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged the global media to make peace journalism a priority, warning that development and social stability cannot thrive amid violence and conflict.
The Sultan made the call in Sokoto while represented by the Waziri of Sokoto, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu, at the opening of a two-day conflict-sensitive journalism training organised by International Alert with support from the European Union, Action Against Hunger and Save the Children Initiative, in partnership with the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Sokoto State Council.
Speaking on peace and conflict-sensitive journalism, the Sultan said peace must be treated as a collective responsibility involving individuals, governments, institutions and the international community.
“Without peace, nothing will move forward; without peace, you cannot conduct your religion,” he said.
He urged journalists and other influential actors to promote messages that encourage peaceful coexistence rather than deepen existing divisions.
The Sultan’s appeal comes against the backdrop of persistent terrorism, communal violence, religious intolerance, ethnic tensions and political divisions in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
He noted that the media could either help calm tensions or worsen them, making responsible reporting particularly important when covering sensitive issues involving religion, ethnicity, politics and communal interests.
The Sultan therefore urged journalists to uphold professionalism, fairness and restraint, warning that careless reporting could deepen mistrust and widen existing social fault lines.
The Chairman of the NUJ, Sokoto State Council, Comrade Usman Muhammad Binji, commended the organisers and supporting organisations for facilitating the training.
Binji said journalists were increasingly confronted with complex security, political, religious and social issues that required greater professional sensitivity.
He urged participants to apply the knowledge gained from the workshop to promote peace and stability in Sokoto State and beyond.
The Chairman of the Sokoto State Council of Ulamas, Sheikh Sidi Ali Sidi, also urged journalists to uphold accuracy, balance and fairness.
He warned that distortion of sensitive information could have serious consequences for peace and social cohesion.
The two-day workshop is expected to strengthen the capacity of journalists and media influencers to identify conflict triggers, avoid harmful narratives and use their platforms to promote dialogue, tolerance and reconciliation.
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