The Nigerian Press Council, NPC, has expressed support for the Federal Government of Nigeria in discouraging the use of hate speech in our media, describing it as one of the causes of communal crises and disunity among Nigerians.

The Executive Secretary of NPC, Mr. Mnamdi Njemanze revealed this in his welcome address at a two-day workshop on responsible media coverage on elections organised by the council and facilitated by Hammersmith Training Consult Limited for journalists in Southwest Nigeria, held at Solton hotel Ijapo Akure.

According to him, hate speech is becoming predominant in the content of our media which has the power to incite discrimination and violence, as it stands to degrade and discriminate against a person or a group.

He noted that the workshop is crucial to to move media practitioners away from hate speech to that reportage which will bring unity, common purpose, respect for one another and to the national development, which can be achieved through adherence to ethical and responsible journalism.

His words : “We at the council feel greatly concern about the use of hate speech as it has been identified as one of the causes of communal crises and disunity among the Nigerian citizens.

“We align with the Federal government’s posture to countering and discouraging the use of hate speech which has characterised the political campaigns in the country “.

The NPC Executive Secretary explained that the purpose of the workshop is to sensitize participants on how best to report electoral processes, towards making the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Ekiti, Osun, and the 2019 general elections a success.

” For us in the mass media , not only are we to be further challenged in our duties, or obligations in the constitution, but to be reminded of the guidelines in the Electoral Act and the Code of Ethics of journalism as a compass for monitoring electoral processes”, he said.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ondo State council, Mr James Sowole commended the organisers, and described the workshop as timely considering the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections that are around the corner.

Advising participants to utilize the opportunity and put the acquired knowledge into practice, Sowole noted that there’s no limit to knowledge any one can gain in the field of journalism, saying the profession is dynamic.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Ondo State, Amb. Rufus Akeju said the workshop is well-timed and located given the trending political activities in the Southwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

Represented by the Head of Electoral Operations, Mr Tope Aina, the REC assured that Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is seriously preparing for the conduct of governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States.

According to him, in covering the processes of the forthcoming elections, the media is expected to partner INEC to ensure credible, free, and fair elections.

” I wish to encourage you as practitioners to take the media’s roles as watchdog for the society with utmost sense of responsibility in order to ensure transparency of the processes from the selection of candidates by the various political parties, the voting process to the announcement and declaration of the winners.

” I need to also remind you that the citizens and electorates depends solely on you for the various information to aid them in making informed choice among the contestants”, he said.