By Joy Odor
The Chairman of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN), Mr. Idehai Frederick, has emphasized the need for diplomats and security stakeholders to strengthen strategic engagement with the media to effectively shape public understanding of their countries’ policies and programmes.
He made the call at the maiden edition of the DICAN Diplomatic and Security International Conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
Mr. Frederick highlighted the importance of collaboration between the Diplomatic Corps and diplomatic correspondents in tackling the growing global threats of disinformation and misinformation, which undermine diplomacy and national security.
Other speakers at the conference echoed similar sentiments.
The representative of the Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Admiral I.M. Haruna, stressed the need for deliberate and consistent cooperation between journalists and diplomats in addressing global security challenges.
The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, represented by the Director of Public Affairs and Protocol, Mr. Abdulrahman Balogun charged DICAN to uphold professionalism and take the lead in countering disinformation through factual reporting.
He encouraged the association to work closely with NIDCOM in educating Nigerians, especially those abroad, on the commission’s mandate.
“Our National Diaspora Policy is accessible on our website. Yet, we still get complaints from Nigerians in the UK about school fees, which is beyond NIDCOM’s mandate,” he said.
The representative of the Inspector General of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Kabiru Abdullahi, also emphasized the need for journalists to adhere to professional and ethical standards in their reportage.
The conference, which attracted diplomats, security experts, and media professionals, was held under the theme “Nigeria’s 4D Foreign Policy Strategy Amidst Global Security Challenges, Strategic Misperceptions, and the Age of Disinformation: ”The Role of Diplomacy, Intelligence, and Media in Shaping National and Global Stability.”
