Dangote Group Tasks Journalists on Environmental Sustainability Reporting

George Okoh in Makurdi

The Dangote Group of companies yesterday, tasked journalists on reportage of environmental sustainability for the development of the country.

The Executive Director, Climate Africa Media Initiative Centre (CAMIC), Alhaji Aliyu Akoshile, made the call  during the commencement of a two-day Environmental Journalism Workshop training for 50 media personnel at Obajana Cement Plant in Kogi.

Akoshile, said environment in which we all live, “is a very important subject matter that journalists should develop interest in and give it prominence in their reportage but the reverse is the case.”

“What journalists and the entire people of Nigeria should know that environmental sustainability is an attitude and a way of life, which all and sundry must play a role to keep our environment safe.

“The environment has been there before us and we need it more than it needs us, therefore, we must protect it from harm for our own good as humans.

“Of recent, the International Press Institute (IPI) reports raised the alarm that environmental reporting has not been given its utmost priority place in the media,” he said.

According to him, if the environment was not conducive, there could not be free movement of both human and animals nor activities like sports, businesses and other important activities.

Head, Dangote Academy, Mr. Wale Adedeji, said Dangote and Obajana Cement Plant were doing the best to ensure that the environment was very safe for all, including our host communities and business partners by imploring various safety measures.

“Environmental sustainability needs collective effort because it’s an attitude and a way of life which we all have to play a role to make conducive.

“We should know that we need the environment more than it needs us, therefore, we should protect it for our own good,” he said.

Also, the General Manager, Human Resources, Dangote Plant, Mr. Ademola Adeyemi, said the company was doing a lot of Community Social Responsibility (CSR) in the four communities it was operating in Kogi.

He said two of the communities where mining of the raw materials were being done, many facilities like healthcare and educational, water and electricity supply were made available to the people.