Kanem Press trains over 70 journalists on reporting historical sites, monuments in Lake Chad region
By Ibrahim Umar & Kasim Isa
Participants at a workshop on reporting historical sites and monuments have emphasized the imperative of preserving and restoring the old historic objects, especially in North East Nigeria because they are the reflection of a people’s history.
The workshop organized by Kanem Press Digital Hub and Partners, attended by more than 73 young journalists was held over the weekend in Damaturu, Yobe State.
The Curator of the National Museum and Monument, Mr Mamza Ralph, said that monuments help to understand and respect people who lived in different eras with different habits and traditions.
According to him, the existence of monuments also help to observe the changes in the societies for a better understanding of the reasons that lead to the development of cities and societies and even traditions to the present.
He however expressed dissatisfaction with how the Dufuna canoe (the oldest historic object in Africa) located in Dufuna village of Yobe State is treated.
Ralph, therefore, thanked Kaneem press for organizing such memorable training and urged its facilitator to seek for government intervention in respecting and protecting reviving and restoring cultural heritage.
Another speaker Dr Adam Kolo of the department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri explained the role of communication in reviving cultural heritage because it is the privileged vehicle for spreading information, knowledge and understanding.
He explained that it could represent a tool for improving access to cultural resources, and facilitate the recognition of heritage values by collectivity and the need for wider and extended protection.
Kolo added that community leaders and traditional and religious institutions have strategic roles to play in restoring and reviving historical monuments in the Lake Chad region particularly
Preservation and Promotion of the Dufuna Canoe Historical Artefact and role for social and behavioral change communication and the Media in Yobe and Borno States.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, the workshop facilitator and President of Kanem Press Digital Hub, Zanna Ibrahim Mustapha also explained the importance of reporting historical sites and monuments and the opportunities as he said a sufficient number of cultural monuments and their good condition is one of the prerequisites for the development of tourism and for the interest of tourists in particular destinations and regions.
According to him, the training was aimed at widening people’s understanding of how to report historical monuments and opportunities available in the Lake Chad region.
He thanked Yobe State government, MacArthur foundation and Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism for their support and the necessary assistance during the course of the training.
Another speaker and director of history and culture Yobe State Adamu Talba Lawan highlighted to the participants how to report historical monuments and future opportunities in the Lake Chad region.
According to him, historical reporting makes it feasible to analyze a wider range of variables, granting improved insight into what’s happening across our societies.
He further explained the three methods of reporting historical monuments which are written reporting, Graphics reporting, and Oral reporting noting that written reporting is the most popular mode because it could keep as legal records and as reference sources, while graphics reports may be presented in the form of charts, diagrams, and pictures.
He explained to the participants that a combination of written, graphic, and oral reporting may be useful for effective and efficient reporting in an organization or any historic setting.
Other speakers including Dr. Kyari Grema, and Alhaji Modu Bukar who is the Director of Arts and Culture at Yobe State, and Director of remedial studies at Yobe State University shared their views on reporting historical monuments and future opportunities.
All the six resource persons unanimously agreed that history is the reason for human existence and the purpose of history is revisiting the past, using what is learned from the past to adjust the present and plan for a better future.
*This publication is produced with support from the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) under the collaborative Media Engagement for Development, Inclusion and Accountability project (CMEDIA) funded by the MacArthur Foundation.*
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