Council trains journalists to report climate change

Fifty Journalists from various media organisations are to be trained on reporting Climate Change by the British Council, a United Kingdom organisation for cultural relations.

The training which started on October 30 is to end on November 16. The trainings are to take place in Lagos and Kano states. They are designed to prepare the journalists ahead of the Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP 15) Summit which holds in Copenhagen, Denmark, December 7-18, 2009.

According to Ogale Idudu, the British Council spokesperson, “Considering the magnitude of the summit, the training will equip the journalists with the necessary skills to engage and be able to break down complex issues and show relevance to the average Nigerian, showing them how they are directly affected by Climate Change.”

Creating awareness

Climate change is a global issue affecting all countries of the world, and Nigeria and other developing countries are said to be especially vulnerable to its consequences. In spite of this, Climate Change enthusiasts in the country have decried its low coverage in Nigerian media, as well as the government’s level of preparedness.

The British Council therefore reasons that Nigerian journalists need to be aware so that they can be empowered to report and engage the community more effectively.

The Council’s spokesperson added that at the end of the training which is facilitated in conjunction with a Nigerian bank, First City Monument Bank, five participants who perform well, will be sponsored to cover the conference in Copenhagen.

According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the COP 15, a follow up on the Bali Climate Conference of 2007 will attract governments of nations who are parties to the convention, the civil society and the media. There, decisions that affect the world will be made.