In an effort to combat the growing crisis of climate change, Saudat Abdulbaqi, an Associate Professor from the Mass Communication Department at the University of Ilorin, has called upon media practitioners to intensify their coverage of climate actions.
The appeal came during her speech at a Climate Change Journalism Workshop, an event co-organized by the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative, DA news, and Sobi FM’s chapel of the Kwara State Council of the NUJ, hosted at the Sinclair Hotel in Ilorin.
Abdulbaqi emphasized the vital role of journalists in addressing the issue of climate change across various reporting beats.
Highlighting the importance of raising awareness, especially in rural areas where there is limited understanding of the impact of human activities on climate change, she stated, “Journalists are the last hope for making the common man aware of how their actions contribute to climate change.”
Acknowledging the challenges in climate change reporting, Abdulbaqi pointed out that the subject is often overlooked or underreported.
“While there is some level of awareness in urban areas, the rural populace remains largely uninformed about their impact on the climate,” she remarked, underscoring the media’s responsibility to deliver information in accessible language.
Dare Akogun, a climate change advocate and News Editor at Sobi FM, echoed Abdulbaqi’s sentiments, urging journalists to present factual reports to dispel myths about climate change.
Akogun stressed the importance of holding leaders and governments accountable through diligent climate reporting.
“Journalists have the power to enlighten policy makers on actions that can mitigate the effects of climate change,” he said.
Additionally, Rasheed Yussuff, Managing Director of Nature News Newspapers, called on journalists to leverage their platforms for promoting sustainable climate actions, such as environmental sanitation and tree planting, as means to protect the planet.
The workshop underscored the collective responsibility of media practitioners to bring climate change to the forefront of public discourse, highlighting the critical role they play in informing, educating, and mobilizing society towards environmental sustainability.