The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Uvwie LGA of Delta State, Prof. Akpofure Rim-RukehNigeria has warned that Nigeria faces monumental natural catastrophes if governments at all levels fails to stop the current massive environmental degradation
Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh who spoke on the topic, ‘Environmental degradation in the Niger Delta: Responsibilities of the Mass Media” in the 21st Century at a one day media capacity building programme organised by Chevron Nigeria Limited JV in partnership with the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Warri Correspondents Chapel said the current flooding in some parts of the country were signs of things to come on a massive scale
He pointed out that some coastal communities sure as Akasa LGA of Bayelsa State might be overtaken by flood in the next 10 years if nothing is done to provide shore protection for the area and this could provoke conflicts in other parts of the country when the inhabitant of impacted areas move away from their ancestral homes
According to him, journalists roles is to serve as powerful platform for raising awareness and educating the public about environmental issues, their causes and potential solutions
He lauded the role of journalists in reporting the oil and gas industry and how they provide effective perspectives to the complexities of the industry operations.
Mr Olusoga Oduselu, who was represented by a communication representative of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Akinbola Saheed Praise, highlighted some of Chevron’s commitment to developing the media to include; “training of over 120 journalists in Advanced Writing and Reporting Skills (AWARES) in collaboration with the Pan Atlantic University, Lagos.”
“Training of over 90 journalists from across the country in Lagos, Abuja and Delta for better performance in their duties, bringing the total to over 300 journalists, who have participated in the capacity building programmmes, he said.
“Aside from supporting Nigerian content development by providing employment opportunities to Nigerians and offering contract opportunities in all their projects, CNL also supports the sustainable development of the communities in which they operate.
“Through the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU), a community-led participatory partnership model, CNL has contributed billions of naira to the Regional Development Committees (RDCs) that represent the communities in its area of operations to execute hundreds of projects in the communities through a governance model that ensures transparency and accountability,” he explained.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Chairman of NUJ Warri Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Okies Okpomor, commended the partnership with Chevron, and emphasized the importance of adapting to the evolving media landscape.
Okies noted: “We are living in a time that there are dynamics in everything, we have to learn new ropes in reporting, especially on issues pertaining to PIA (Petroleum Industry Act) and other relevant issues in the oil industry.”
Another facilitator, Associate Prof. Majority OJ, Head of Department of Mass Communication, Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka, trained journalists on “Repositioning the Media for Effective and Efficient Reportage of the IOCs and Host Communities.”
He noted the focus of the media for effective reporting to include: Comprehensive knowledge of the oil and gas sector, knowledge of the environment and Impact assessment, stakeholder-engagement and community development and knowledge of Peace Journalism as well as conflict resolution.
