Luanda — The secretary of State for Social Communication, Manuel da Conceição, stressed Thursday in Luanda, the role of the media in raising awareness among the citizens.

The secretary of State was speaking at the closing of the first course of National Defence for Journalists, which for two days gathered professionals from the private and public media organs and representatives of sectors of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA).

Speaking on behalf of the Social Communication minister, José Luís de Matos, the official added that the issue of National Defence is important and aims at guaranteeing the sovereignty and territorial integrity in which the whole society is called to participate.

Manuel da Conceição added that there is no doubt that the media play a very important role in raising public awareness about the creation of a culture of safety, security and love for the country, particularly in this stage of development and reconstruction.

The course was attended by 83 journalists and was jointly organised by the Ministries of National Defense, through its National Defence Institute and the Social Communication and the Journalist Traning Centre (CEFOJOR):