By Gen SK Usman (rtd)
It was a great honour to be the Guest Speaker at the 2025 Kaduna State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Annual Press Week, held at Bafra Hotel and Suites, Kaduna.
For me, it was indeed a fulfilling and enriching experience, made even more special by the sense of familiarity and warmth I felt in Kaduna.
The state has always felt like a second home, particularly when I recall the support and collaboration of these journalists during my tenure as Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, at 1 Division, Nigerian Army, from 2012 to 2014, at the height of the Boko Haram insurgency.
Their professionalism, patriotism, and dedication were instrumental in enabling the military to discharge its duties effectively during those challenging times. We owe much of our success to their support and commitment to truth and service.
In my presentation, titled “Media as Catalyst for Peace: Strengthening the Kaduna State Peace Model through Responsible Reporting and Constructive Dialogue,” I examined the strategic role of the media in peacebuilding within conflict-prone societies, using the Kaduna State Peace Model as a practical case study.
I highlighted how responsible reporting, peace journalism, and constructive dialogue can prevent conflict escalation, counter misinformation, and rebuild trust among communities.
I emphasised that in a diverse and sensitive environment like Kaduna State, every headline, frame, and word choice matters. The media can either deepen divisions or foster understanding, reconciliation, and social cohesion.
I also emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among the government, media, and communities, as well as continuous professional training for journalists, and the revival of institutionalised dialogue platforms to promote early warning and conflict prevention.
Concluding my presentation, I reminded journalists of their unique responsibility as custodians of public trust, noting that “in fragile societies, the media must never be a trigger for conflict but a bridge for dialogue, because when communication is responsible, peace becomes possible, sustainable, and replicable.”
I was particularly impressed by the remarkable turnout and the enthusiastic participation of distinguished guests and professionals who graced the occasion. Present were the Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba San, CON, ably represented by the Kaduna State Commissioner for Information, my good friend and brother, Mallam Ahmed Maiyaki; the NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, and his Vice President, Zone A, Comrade Mohammed Tukur; the Secretary Zone A, Comrade Abdulrazak Kaura; our host, the NUJ State Chairman, Comrade Abdulgafar Alabelewe; the representative of Senator Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari, former Governor of Zamfara State, who chaired the occasion; seasoned journalists, public relations practitioners, traditional rulers, and many others, making the event all the more inspiring and meaningful.
