HCD Reporting: Abia Govt Launches First-Ever Media Training

A two-day intensive Media Training focused on enhancing reportorial skills and strengthening media capacity for Human Capacity Development (HCD) reporting, Tuesday commenced at the Aguiyi Ironsi Conference Center Umuahia.

The training, aimed at equipping journalists with skills and insights necessary to cover HCD -related issues effectively, organized by the Abia State Government led by the Focal person for HCD and Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, Pastor Eno Jerry Eze, is the first of it’s kind in the state.

In her opening remarks, the Convener, Pastor Eno Jerry Eze highlighted the importance of a more proactive media role in setting the public agenda on HCD adding that the training is for “broader media coverage for HCD”.

She underscored the need for a broader media coverage to ensure that HCD initiatives receive sustained attention and noted that by setting the public agenda, the media can help prioritize HCD on the state’s development roadmap.

“Our focus is on Agenda-setting: Prioritizing HCD in public discourse, Information sharing: Educating the public on HCD.

“Accountability: Ensuring government and stakeholders meet HCD commitments, Advocacy: Promoting policy changes for HCD, Community mobilization: Inspiring public support for HCD and Develop impactful HCD stories”.

The state HCD Focal Person noted that the National Economic Council in 2018 initiated the National HCD programme to address poverty and create sustainable economic growth and listed the thematic areas of HCD to include Education, Health and Nutrition and Labour Force Participation.

She highlighted that the HCD Programme aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, and pointed out that the HCD 2.0 in Abia would focus on implementation and overall governance and funding structure to ensure sustainability of the programme.

 

“HCD programme 1.0 is to set clear policy targets and multi-sectoral plans for investment in Human Capital and expanding stakeholder support”.

In his speech, a Development Communication Expert, Mr Bankole Ebisemiju, described the media as a powerful tool that can accelerate HCD in Abia.

Ebisemiju said that the media have the duty to disseminate essential knowledge and resources, foster culture of lifelong learning and health awareness and hold leaders accountable to drive positive social responsibility.

He said that the training would focus on educating journalists on strategies through which the Abia HCD objectives could be better projected.

 

According to him, HCD remains a very core need for the development of the state and nation at large.

 

“It is our responsibility to let the people know about HCD so that people can take advantage of the opportunities in the programme.

 

“It is our responsibility to dig further into programmes and policies and publicise them for the benefit of the public .

 

“Journalists should ask for HCD documents, study them and raise issues about the programmes loop holes and challenges in reality,”Ebisemiju said.

 

He also urged journalists to develope a consistent capacity building culture in order to remain active and relevant contributor in the advancement of the society.

 

 

 

In a vote of thanks on behalf of the participants, the Assistant Head of Information and Press, Government House Umuahia, Mr. Divine Nwankwo appreciated Governor Alex Otti and the State Civil Service Commission for organizing media training for journalists in Abia State

 

Mr. Nwankwo, who described the training as unprecedented and first in the history of Abia State commended the resource person for his rich knowledge shared to the media practitioners and assured that they would put what they have learnt in practice and help in promoting the activities of HCD.

 

“I wish to thank very sincerely, Governor Alex Otti, OFR and the management of the Abia State Civil Service Commission for putting together this training for media workers in Abia State.

 

“This is first in history and very unprecedented. For the Governor to approve this kind training for journalists means that he is committed to promoting transparency in governance and building a new where the media could hold government accountable to the people”.