THE MEDIA AND MANAGEMENT OF BOKO HARAM CRISIS IN NIGERIA

2ND ANNUAL RAMADAN SERIES OF LECTURES,ORGANISED BY HILAAL (CRESCENT) ISLAMIC CENTERDATE: YAOMAL THULATHAA, 12TH RAMADAN, 1433(TUESDAY, 31ST JULY, 2012)TOPIC: “THE MEDIA AND MANAGEMENT OF BOKO HARAM CRISIS IN NIGERIA”

DISCUSSANT: BRO. ABDULROSHEED OKIKI

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. All praises and adorations are due to nobody except Allah, the God of the universe. Whomever Allah guides cannot be led astray and whomever Allah misguides, none can guide him. May His blessings be upon the noblest Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him), his companions and the generality of the Muslims till the day of accountability.

WHY THE MEDIA?

The vital role effective communication plays in human existence could be simply summarized by saying that information is power. Mass media which involve print, electronic and social media therefore are contemporary mean of circulating information to a multitude of people in a diversified society such as Nigeria.

The primary roles of any media across the world are to educate, inform, enlighten and entertain the public on any issue whether at micro or macro level. As beautiful as these roles are, media also perform functions like surveillance of the environment, correlation of the components of society in responding to the environment and then transmission of social heritage.

In fact, the pivotal role of the media has made it an indispensable tool in any society because the availability of information to the public douse tension, doubt or skepticism about government programmes and policies, corporate organizations, socio-religious groups, political groups and notable individuals.

It is through information that the public are kept abreast of happenings in and around them. To get this to happen, the media go extra miles to source for information, analyse the information, spread the information, ideas, messages and so forth to multitude of people over large or wide territories within a relatively short time.

It must be added that as indispensable as the media are, communication outfits can mar the society through their reportage or programming if they fail to be sensitive to happenings in the society particularly issues like religious, ethnic or tribal crisis.

Without doubt, conflict is part and parcel of life. Conflict is an inescapable occurrence in every human interaction, be it at individual, corporate or state level. Disagreements are bound to occur as human beings or nations interact with one another, but the ability to properly manage any ensued conflict or crisis is the most important thing. Hence, the media, as the mirror of the society is more than mechanism for disseminating information but packaging information that will douse tension and create or strengthen society.

MEDIA AND BOKO HARAM CRISIS

Taking a critical look at the media and the management of Boko Haram crisis, one will no doubt agree that the Nigerian media is playing both negative and positive roles in giving information to the public about the activities of the group, about government and public responses to the activities of the group.

Today, different adjectives have since been used to describe the group and its activities since the insurgence several years of ago. Without dwelling much into the cause of the Boko Haram crisis and operation of the sect, a fact that cannot be wished-away was the killing of about fourteen members of the group during a funeral procession by the Nigerian police on the ground that they did not use safety helmet. The then sect leader, Muhammad Yusuf was reported to have written several letters to the Borno State Government and the Borno State Commissioner of Police and called for compensation.

After patiently waiting without any positive response, the group chose to err first and adopted the dangerous strategy to force the government to do it wishes. However, the entire world was witness to the aftermath of the grievances during the period which was showed on an international television (Al-jazeerah) where the entire camp of the group was cleared off by soldiers and the eventual extra-judicial killing of the sect leader, Muhammad Yusuf by the Police. No one was tried for the killing until recently.

It is not doubt that since then, Boko Haram crisis degenerated to the extent that the group keeps on regrouping, re-strategising and killed thousands of people and destroyed properties, media houses, police and military formations inclusive.

In reporting the activities of the sect, Nigerian media has been using series of names to qualify the group which include faceless group, Islamic sect, terrorist group, militant group among others. In fact, the origin of the sect could be traced to Jama’atul Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad led by the executed Muhammad Yusuf and the media called Boko Haram could not be said to be the sect led by the killed leader. In Quran 5 verse 32, Allah says: “….if someone kills another person unless it is retaliation for someone else or for causing corruption in the earth-it is as if he had murdered all mankind. And if anyone gives life to another person, it is as he had given life to all mankind. Then, can the Nigerian media continue to call the group an Islamic militant sect?

Thus, Boko Haram crisis has tested the dexterities of many media houses in reporting conflicts either at communal or national level. Many media houses in Nigeria have failed to recognize the Boko Haram group as a pressure group just like the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) which takes instance as a result of mismanagement in the polity to gain popularity. Another point that must be stated that if actually all members of the group are Nigerians; they have the fundamental rights to be heard and effect necessary positive change in the Nigerian project.

To effectively manage Boko Haram crisis by the Nigerian media therefore, media practitioners that are involved or will be involved in reporting the crisis should seek proper knowledge about the origin, operations and development of the group. It is believed that doing this will open the minds of reporters to distinguishing between what is true or false and project the impact of such report on social harmony. The Prophet (SAW) said: “A person who believes in Allah and the Hereafter should speak about good things or keep quiet.” (Bukhari).

For the fact that the crisis is taking international dimension, assisted by the print, electronic and social media, media houses should place emphasize on the group’s activities that are so expedient in order not to exacerbate the polity. National unity and peaceful co-existence should be seen as the most important social responsibility of any of any media house.

It would be recalled that Thisday Newspaper houses were attacked by the Boko Haram, claiming it was a reaction to poor reportage of its activities. Hence, it is expedient for the media to shun under-reportage of Boko Haram activities and unbalanced report but dwell much on investigative reporting, seeking the truth, know the truth and report the true situation of thing.

WAY FORWARD

Nigerian media has in the past played important role in fighting colonialism, dictatorial regimes and nation building, the Boko Haram crisis creates another opportunity for the Nigerian media to show its acumen in handling the crisis engulfing northern part of the country. Experts in crisis management must be allowed to source for and acquire information about the violence. Because, you cannot give what you do not have unless millions of people will be misled.

Nigerian media should re-invigorate their machineries towards playing mediatory role in ending the Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria by distinguishing properly between propaganda and truth, verify incidences of bombings and other violent acts to actually know whether it was perpetrated by the group or not before going to the press.

Nigerian media should not shirk in their responsibility as the case may be and called the government, Boko Haram and other stakeholders to order on the need to end the crisis through dialogue as many wars are not won on the battle field but on the table (not war-war but jaw-jaw).

Continuous existence of Nigeria as a nation does not lies on the media alone, every Nigerian must rise up to the challenge and acknowledge the fact that there are strengthens in our diversities whether in terms of religious, political or ethnic differences.

This article was prepared for the 2nd Annual Ramadhan series of lectures organised by Hilaal (Crescent) Islamic Centre, Ilorin, Kwara State in 2012......Abdulrosheed Okiki.

OFSP: A PANACEA TO VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY AND MALNUTRITION IN NIGERIA

Vitamin A Deficiency is a serious and widespread public health in developing countries of the world with Nigeria inclusive. The main causes of Vitamin A Deficiency include inadequate intake of Vitamin A due to a poor diet and frequent infections, especially worms, measles, diarrhea and respiratory infections.

This deficiency is one of the major health problems affecting young children, pregnant women and lactating mothers in developing in developing countries as it leads to poor growth and development, increased risk of infection and severity of infection, eye problem and death.

An estimated eight hundred and sixty-one thousand Nigerian children die before the age of five annually while over a third of these deaths are attributed to undernutrition as a result of low rates of exclusive breastfeeding, poorly timed introduction of complementary foods and a high prevalence of deficiencies of essential micro-nutrient.

Studies have shown that Vitamin A Deficiency and under-nutrition generally, limit the intellectual potential of individuals affected, undermining economic and social development. Also, the cognitive and physical damage caused by chronic under-nutrition, particularly in the one thousand days between pregnancy and age two, is largely irreversible while populations that are under-nourished have lower individual productivity, reduced physical capacity, higher health care costs and lower economic output, thereby impeding the nation’s economic growth.

The World Bank also estimates in a report that under-nutrition significantly impacts lifetime earning potential and reduces Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by up to three per cent. No doubt, food insecurity and malnutrition in rural areas of Nigeria result from non-implementation and inadequate implementation of the National Food and Nutritional Policy and National Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition.

To this end, treating Vitamin A Deficiency is established as one of the most effective ways to increase child survival and this could be achieved by scaling-up Vitamin A supplementation programme, food fortification with Vitamin A and food-based approaches that encourage diet diversification and promote Vitamin A rich foods, including bio-fortified foods.

To utilize Vitamin A rich sweetpotato called Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato (OFSP) to combat Vitamin A Deficiency in Nigeria, Helen Keller International and International Centre for Potato (CIP) have been championing advocacy and production of OFSP in selected countries with Nigeria inclusive through the Reaching Agents of Change in selected states to raise investment for the production and consumption of Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato is extremely rich in bioavailable beta-carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A and its consumption is the easiest way to combat Vitamin A Deficiency in children under five years of age and women of reproductive age.

Hence, one small root or one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five grams of most OFSP varieties can supply the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin A for children under five as it is believed that in many parts of Africa, access to fortified foods may be limited by availability and purchasing.

Policy makers must therefore create a budget line for OFSP in relevant ministries because apart from the nutritional value of OFSP, it also assists in immune boosting of a child and prevents all forms of life-threatening diseases while it equally serve as opportunity to empower the teeming youths in value chain with a view to coming up with varieties of products made from OFSP and thereby improve the economy.

Abdulrosheed Okiki

30 Women Undergo Free VVF repair in Kwara

Thirty women affected by Obstetric Fistula have undergone free screening and treatment at the Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilorin sponsored by the USAID funded Fistula Care Plus in collaboration with the Kwara State Government.

All the clients who turned out for the exercise went through full repair with surgical operations to properly reintegrate them into the society.

Our Correspondent, Abdulrosheed Okiki who was at the Hospital now present his report.

Track up

Fistula is an occurrence of abnormal hole between the bladder and the front passage resulting in continuous and uncontrollable leakage of urine or faeces or both.

Speaking during the facility tour of the hospital by the Journalists who attended a three-day training of Fistula Basic, some of the clients narrated their experiences in managing the condition over the years.

A Client, Mary Okunade disclosed that she has been battling with the condition for the past four years before the intervention.

Mrs. Okunade who attributed the cause of the Fistula to her last child birth experience which she delivered through Ceasera Section and has since been having uncontrollable urine until she had a radio jingle about pool effort to be held at Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilorin.

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She thanked the sponsors of the project for their intervention which she said would enable her properly re-integrate into the society.

Another Client, a thirty-seven year-old Folake Abdulrazak disclosed that she started leaking urine after her second delivery.

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Mrs. Abdulrazak added that the support she enjoyed from her husband and relatives during the period lessened the challenge of fistula in her life.

In an interaction with Health Correspondents, the Head of the Medical Team for the Mission, Doctor Saad Idris attributed the cause of many cases handled during the mass fistula repair to prolong obstructed labour.

Doctor Idris explained that the number of women repaired shown that the exercise was a successful one and called on pregnant women to attend ante natal regularly in order not to be affected with the condition.

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Doctor Idris canvassed for more investment in prevention and treatment of fistula.

Abdulrosheed Okiki reporting. END

FISTULA: USAID, others train Nigerian Journalists on advocacy

A three-day intensive training for Journalists on Fistula Basic has ended in Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital with a call on Journalists to step up awareness on prevention and treatment of Fistula among women in Nigeria.

The training which was organised by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Fistula Care Plus and Engender Health in collaboration with the Kwara State Government drew participants from Kwara, Oyo, Kogi, Lagos, Kebbi, Bauchi, Ebonyi and Cross River States.

In his address, a Gynaecologist and Country Project Manager, USAID Fistula Care Plus-Engender Health Programme, Doctor Habib Sadauki called on Journalists to educate pregnant women on the need to take adequate precautions to avoid childbirth related complication such as fistula.

Doctor Sadauki enjoined Journalists to educate the public about Fistula and encourage policy makers to mobilise resources on maternal issues with a view to ensuring a healthy country.

According to him, media practitioners have special role in informing the communities about issues relating to Fistula if maternal-mortality rate must be reduced in Nigeria.

He emphasised the need for parents to adhere to good nutritional habit for their children as a precursor to preparing female children for pregnancy and other childbirth challenges.

Doctor Sadauki explained that already twelve Fistula centres had been established in eleven states of the federation, including Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilorin with the support of USAID, calling on those who were down with the condition to access free full fistula repair in order to get integrated into the society.

A Clinical Associate, Fistula Care Plus, Doctor Suleiman Zakariya encouraged women to take advantage of the government free maternal health services for women and children below five years.

He advocated proper child spacing to ensure healthy family and reduce maternal and mortality rate in Nigeria.

Doctor Zakariya who described Fistula as abnormal hole in the vagina which leads to leaking of urine advised pregnant women to patronise skilled birth attendants during pregnancy to reduce the chance of developing fistula.

In his lecture, a Media Practitioner, Mr. Anselm Okolo tasked Journalists to engage relevant Experts while embarking on reports or discussion on health related issues to ensure accurate and detailed reportage.

Mr. Okolo stressed the need for Journalists to equip themselves about facts, myths and misconceptions surrounding Obstetric fistula in order to get more women informed about fistula and encourage pregnant women to patronise health facilities during pregnancy.

Correspondent, Abdulrosheed Okiki who was among the participants reports that fifteen Journalists from across the country participated in the training.

I'll not disappoint Nigerians - Saraki

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki says he will use his position to facilitate development of Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole.

Senator Saraki gave the assurance in Ilorin when he paid homage to the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari in his palace shortly after he observed Jumaat prayer at Ilorin Central Mosque.

According to him, the post of number three citizen is an honour to the Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State in general.

Senator Saraki noted that his emergence as the Senate President was not without challenge said the feat was a demonstration of the superiority of Almighty Allah.

He thanked the people of the state for their love, support, prayers and unity of purpose in ensuring his emergency as the Senate President.

The Senate President commended his colleagues who stood by him for standing for truth, justice and fairness during the challenging period, promising not to let them down.

Senator Saraki who was emotional in his speech remembered the contributions of his late father and former Senate Leader, Doctor Olusola Saraki to the political development of the country.

In his remarks, the State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed described the Senator Saraki as a bridge builder who had built bridges across ethnic groups in Nigeria which he said culminated into his emergence as the Senate President.

Governor Ahmed maintained that Senator Saraki's new position had elevated the state into mainstream of Nigerian politics and expressed the hope that Senator Saraki would sustain his strong sense of inclusive governance in the country.

Responding, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari thanked Allah for the victory of Senator Bukola Saraki in the contest for the coveted post and prayed Allah for His guidance over the new Senate President.

The Senate President was accompanied to the Palace by Senator Danjuma Goje, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, Senator Andy Uba, Senator Abdulahi Gobir and Senator Rafiu Adebayo.

Others were former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the Speaker, State House of Assembly, Doctor Ali Ahmad and a Chieftain of APC, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje.

Abdulrosheed Okiki reporting

LEAH CHARITY FOUNDATION @ 2

Undoubtedly, the business of governance, promotion of peoples welfare, empowerment of teeming youth and assistance of the poor masses either in cash or in kind is beyond what an entity called government can shoulder.

In developed economies, non-governmental organizations, associations, women groups, labour unions, students unions among others play their roles in ensuring that the society is lively enough for people to live-in.

Despite the economic and socio-political challenges in this part of the world, some Non-Governmental Organizations also found it imperative to think out of box to genuinely assist the people through empowerment and medical needs of women and children. Among the identified Non-Governmental Organizations is the pet project of the Wife of the Kwara State Governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed called LEAH Charity Foundation.

The LEAH Charity Foundation in the last two years has been collaborating with the Kwara State Government and other relevant organizations in impacting positively on the lives of the people in the areas of social welfare, health and education.

The Foundation under LEAH Youth Empowerment Scheme had empowered over 56 Youths with trading tools like recharge cards and call centre opening tents as well as barbing equipment, to unemployed youth, while about 200 have benefited from various trading tools like grinding machines, Deep Freezers, Hair Dressing equipments and capital, ranging from N20, 000 to N50, 000, under the LEAH Women Empowerment.

Also, the Foundation is concerned about the plight of people living with disabilities as 23 men and women received various levels of economic empowerment support ranging from outright cash grants to the provision of photocopier machine, generating set, deep freezers and grinding machines while the Foundation also donated 21 wheel chairs, crutches, hearing and walking aids to some people with one form of disability or the other.

Recently, the Foundation collaborated with another organization, Tolaran foundation to provide artificial limbs to 39 Amputees spread across the State.

Interestingly, the LEAH Charity Foundation’s Clinic-on-the-Wheel is taking free medical care in form of examination, analysis, treatment and referrals to the rural and semi-urban communities in Kwara State and the Foundation has reached out to over 300, 000 people in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Asa, Kaiama, Baruten, Oyun, Irepodun Local Government areas and among others where free Malaria treatments, free eye glasses and sundry rests were carried out on each mission.

LEAH Sight Restoration Scheme is also designed to grant people the access to free eye tests, auto-refraction services and free surgeries and under the scheme about 5, 000 people accessed this programme, 1, 500 received eye glasses and 1, 400 both adult and children were operated on and the rest were either given drugs and eye drops.

Last year’s December, the Foundation hosted a week long reading camp, the first of its kind in the country, where over 200 Junior and Secondary pupils from all over the State were exposed to the benefit of reading as a life-long skill.

Interestingly, the Foundation has gone a step further in organizing breast and Cervical Cancer screening test at Sobi Specialist Hospital, Cottage Hospital, Adewole and Children Specialist Hospital, Centre Igboro with a view to ascertaining their status, manage their health condition and stop further spread of the disease.

It is therefore believed that if the spate of the hardwork, commitment and zeal of touching lives positively already started by the Wife of the Kwara State Governor and Founding Trustee of LEAH Charity Foundation, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed is sustained and improved upon Kwaran women and children would remain grateful to the First Lady as we look forward to more years of humanitarian assistance to those in dear need of assistance.

Happy Second Anniversary in Office.

DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA

Development is a normative word which tends to prescribe what ought to be achieved from one stage of life. It is a process of improvement with respect to a set of values that exist before while to many scholars; it is a comparative state of affairs.

Some other scholars also see development in terms of economic growth accompanied by social, political, cultural and institutional changes and each change is regarded as positive change.

In essence, a critical look at various sectors of Nigerian e

conomy gives a better picture of the state of affairs in Nigeria whether the country is actually developing, developed or stagnated.

Prior to Nigeria’s independence in 1960, the British Colonial Government came up with her development plan to the then colonized territory in order to suit her exploration and colonization objectives in the country.

Upon gaining independence, the nationalists saw the need to ensure a far-reaching development plan that would put Nigeria on the path of growth through its development aspirations.

It is on record that the First National Development Plan of 1962 to 1968 which later extended to 1970 as a result of the military intervention of 1966 and civil war recorded a notable achievements which included the execution of projects like the Port Harcourt Refinery, Jebba Paper Mill, Sugar Mill in Bacita, Niger Dam, Niger Bridge, Ports extension and construction of a number of trunk ‘A’ roads.

Interestingly, the first generation universities which included the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) were established by both the Federal and regional governments.

In 1970, General Yakubu Gowon launched the Second National Development Plan on behalf of the Federal and the then twelve State Governments. The plan was primarily designed to focus on the reconstruction of a war-battered economy and the promotion of economic and social development in the new Nigeria.

Notable among the achievements of the Second Development Plan were the successful construction of many federal roads, take off of the National Youth Service Corps, introduction of Federal Scholarship and loan schemes for Nigerian students.

Equally, the Third National Development Plan was launched in April, 1975 with pleasant objectives of increase in per capital income, more even distribution of income, reduction in the level of unemployment, diversification of the economy, indigenization of economic activities among others. However, all these objectives could not see the light of the day as a result of the incursion of another Military Government in July, 1975, barely three moths after the Plan was launched.

For the first in the history of the country, democratically elected government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari launched the Fourth National Development Plan in 1981, expected to last till 1985. Unlike the previous Development Plans, the Fourth Plan was the first in which the Local Governments were made to participate at the levels of preparation and they were also allowed to have their own separate progrmmes under the Plan.

The Fourth Development Plan was again affected by the change of government in 1983 and by yet another change in 1985. Indeed, the performance of the economy during the Fourth Plan was generally poor and the period eventually saw an end to major National Development.

No doubt, the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) introduced in 1986 by General Ibrahim Babangida and Vision 2010 Plan of General Sani Abacha have both negative and positive effects on the social, economic and political spheres of Nigeria. In fact, the two regimes left scars of wound in Nigerian economy which hitherto remain unhealed.

Since the return of democracy in 1999, government at all levels, particularly at the Federal levels have embarked on series of reforms, short, medium and long term plans which include the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategies (NEEDS) National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), Seven Point Agenda, Vision 20: 2020, the United Nations adopted Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) among others without appreciable result.

A Development Economist, George Leiser once opined that before you can say that one country is making progress; one must provide answers to what has been happening to poverty? What has been happening to unemployment? And what has been happening to inequality between the poor and the rich?

Hence, the accentuated inequality, pervasive poverty and increasing unemployment rate should be addressed to bring about the accelerated development in social, economic and political landscapes of the country.

Government at all levels must shun policy somersault, corruption, favouritism and nepotism, bad governance and stem the rising spate of insecurity with a view to returning Nigeria to the path of progress.