The Search for Common Ground, in collaboration with the Young Leaders Network, has initiated Nigeria Youth Collective Action for Religious Engagement (CARE) project to train micro-influencers on media listening design and analysis for conflict sensitive reporting.
The 2-day training session, held at Hazibal Hotels in Bauchi State, brought together micro-influencers from Bauchi, Plateau, and Gombe states.
Mr. Shama Balami, Digital Peacebuilding Project Officer in Bauchi State, highlighted the program’s significance in his speech: “This initiative is crucial for equipping our youth with the necessary skills to navigate and influence the digital landscape positively. By focusing on media listening and analysis, we can effectively counteract harmful narratives and promote a culture of tolerance and understanding.”
The training is part of a broader 24-month project, supported by the United States Department of Human Rights and Labor, aimed at fostering inter-religious trust and tolerance. The participants, who manage various social media platforms, are learning to use digital tools to interview and engage their communities, promoting freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).
Balami added, “Our goal is to transform online spaces into forums for healthy dialogue and to influence policy at the state level, ensuring that our efforts have a lasting impact on inter-religious tolerance and religious freedom.”
This initiative underscores the power of digital platforms in peacebuilding and the pivotal role of young influencers in shaping a more inclusive and respectful society.
Mr. Allan Cheboi, Data and Digital Technology Lead at Build Up, highlighted the essential role influencers play in the digital landscape. He noted that influencers are “key people who are between the public and the online space,” emphasizing their influential nature online. Educating these influencers on social media analysis is vital for leveraging their reach to promote positive societal change, particularly in areas such as freedom of religion and belief.
Cheboi explained that influencers have a significant impact due to their extensive online presence. He remarked that their communication can either “encourage peaceful coexistence within the society” or contribute to tensions if not handled properly. Thus, it is crucial to provide them with training on how to use their influence responsibly.
By equipping influencers with the right tools and knowledge, they can use their platforms to promote social cohesion rather than amplify violence. Cheboi emphasized the importance of ensuring that influencers understand how to “explore the influence that you have online for good,” thus supporting inter-religious tolerance and peaceful interactions.
Mr. Sefa Shia, The Media Officer for Search for Common Ground, emphasized the importance of the social media listening and analysis workshop being conducted. He outlined that the goal of engaging social media influencers is to impact both physical and digital environments positively.
The workshop focuses on equipping participants to embrace “freedom of religion or belief” and to intercept harmful trends before they escalate.
Mr Shia pointed out the significance of this training by referencing the incident in Sokoto, which began online and escalated due to a lack of timely intervention. According to Shia, implementing measures to monitor and analyze online trends could have potentially prevented the escalation of such incidents.
The training aims to enhance media influencers’ ability to understand and interpret online contexts, analyze trends, and positively influence outcomes. This approach is intended to foster an environment of “freedom of religion and belief” and improve conflict sensitivity in reporting.
Following a comprehensive training workshop on social media listening and analysis, hosted by Search for Common Ground, three participants shared their insights on how the training has transformed their approach to content creation, especially in promoting freedom of religion or belief and peacebuilding.
Honorable Nazir Yusuf, representing the youth of Akonot in Gombe State Youth Parliament, expressed his enthusiasm and the profound impact of the Search For Common Ground platform. He gained knowledge on creating early warning responses and was excited to participate in the training.
Mr. Musa Balu Alaji, a civil engineer from Bauchi state, praised the workshop for providing new skills and perspectives on peace building. He believes the workshop has equipped him with knowledge and skills to analyze social media, analyze, and how to impact others in his community.
Similarly, Miss Blessing Danladi Dodo, a micro-influencer from Plateau State, gained a deeper understanding of social media listening and analysis through the workshop. She now uses tools like CrowdTangle and Synthesis for comprehensive data collection and content creation, promoting positive narratives and conflict-sensitive reporting.
This is beautiful and well put out…