Igolo, Port-Novo, Benin Republic – The Edo-Delta Journalists Forum has taken journalism beyond national borders with its maiden training on cross-border trade, security, culture and regional integration in the Republic of Benin.
The one-day workshop held on Wednesday at Igolo, in the Port-Novo area of Benin Republic, brought together journalists from Edo and Delta States and stakeholders from the host community.
Members of the Forum said the programme was the first of its kind and marks the beginning of efforts to promote development-focused journalism across the Nigeria-Benin corridor.
The Protem Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Tunde Umar-Daniah, said the organisation was established on the conviction that journalism must go beyond routine news reporting.
According to him, the Forum was formed to contribute to societal development, regional integration, national security and cross-border diplomacy.
He said the choice of Igolo, a border community, was deliberate to expose journalists to the real issues affecting border communities, including trade, culture and family ties.
He explained that the Forum is working to build a strong professional platform that will sustain investigative reporting, policy engagement and public-interest journalism.
He added that the Forum plans to engage the governments of Edo and Delta States through policy dialogue, media initiatives and youth empowerment programmes that promote investment and peaceful coexistence.
He noted that constructive engagement among governments, businesses, security agencies and border communities is essential for economic growth and regional stability.
The workshop featured practical sessions on ECOWAS trade protocols, cross-border security reporting, and the economic impact of smuggling on local manufacturing and government revenue.
Participants were trained on how to report the economic consequences of smuggling, trade barriers and accountability issues in border management, beyond just reporting arrests.
The Forum stressed that journalists must investigate how smuggling weakens local industries, kills jobs and undermines national development.
The training was enriched by the presence of the Permanent Secretary of the Nigeria-Benin Republic Inter-Border Forum, Dr. Bonny Abisogun Botoku, who shared insights on diplomacy, culture and peaceful coexistence.
Also in attendance were Hon. Falola Marufatu Ileola, Deputy Mayor of Ifonyin Municipality, and Monsieur Matthew Koudogbo, another official from Ifonyin Municipality, who spoke on cultural dynamics and community cohesion.
Both officials provided perspectives on cross-border cultural ties, socio-economic relations and the need for diplomacy in managing border communities.
The Edo-Delta Journalists Forum commended public officers involved in border management and security, acknowledging their roles in trade facilitation, community intelligence and maintaining national stability.
The Forum said by taking its maiden training to a border community in Benin Republic, it has demonstrated its commitment to connect the historical solidarity of the former Bendel people with contemporary issues of governance, regional development and international cooperation.