Media as Catalyst for Peace: Retired General Urges Kaduna Journalists to Strengthen State’s Peace Model

Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria

At the 2025 edition of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ Press Week organised by the State Chapter in Kaduna, retired Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman delivered a powerful presentation framing the media as a critical pillar for sustainable peace.

Speaking at the Barfa Hotel and Suites over the weekend, General Usman (rtd) highlighted Kaduna State’s history as a microcosm of Nigeria’s diversity, which has faced cycles of ethno-religious conflict and security challenges. He pointed to the institutionalised “Kaduna State Peace Model” as a proven, dialogue-driven framework for building cohesion.

The core of his message was a call for responsible reporting and constructive dialogue. He argued that in a digital age ripe with misinformation, the media’s power is a double-edged sword: it can either fuel divisions or foster understanding and reconciliation.

“The media can either reinforce peace or aggravate tensions,” he stated, echoing the words of Kofi Annan.

General Usman outlined key areas where media action is crucial: adopting conflict-sensitive Peace Journalism that highlights solutions and humanises all sides, verifying information to counter digital threats, and leveraging local media platforms to promote community-driven peace narratives.

He emphasized that sustainable peace requires a synergistic partnership between the government, media, and communities. While acknowledging the recent disbanding of the Kaduna State Peace Commission, he urged its reconstitution and recommended the establishment of a Media Peace Compact to guide ethical crisis communication.

Concluding, the retired General charged journalists present to see themselves as “custodians of social harmony,” whose responsible work is indispensable for rebuilding trust and strengthening the Kaduna Peace Model for a more secure and prosperous state.