• Amuka, Muda, Ishiekwene proffer way forward
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, reassured that his government would stop at nothing to steer the country out of the current economic hardship even as he implored the media to join forces with him to think out ways of addressing challenges facing the nation.
He said the removal of fuel subsidy was not meant to impose undue economic pains on Nigerians but a step to address a major challenge facing the country.
Tinubu spoke at the opening of the All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) holding in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The conference is entitled: Stimulating Economic Growth, Technological Advancement: Role of the Media.”
Dignitaries at the event included Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Bassey Eno, former Ogun state governor, Segun Osoba, senators and House of Representatives members.
The president, represented by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, outlined policies and reforms his government has introduced to take the country out of the woods. He advised that rather than being despondent, Nigerians should continue to make sacrifices and work with his government to surmount socio-economic challenges facing the nation.
“The removal of subsidy on petrol and the convergence of the foreign exchange rate were inevitable decisions to save the economy from suffocation. Though Nigerians are going through tough times in the short term, it is a necessary sacrifice that we must make to guarantee a better future. We have put in place palliatives and other measures to cushion the effect of these hard times, which is a bridge to the renewed hope agenda, where we will all have lasting smiles on our faces as we turn the tide together.
“I am happy to see the gathering of eminent personalities at this conference, not to mention the brainstorming sessions where we can share great ideas that will lead us to our desired destination. The feedback from this conference will, no doubt, contribute to our quest to achieve a better Nigeria.”
Tinubu assured he was ready to work with the media to enthrone a new Nigeria but cautioned against promotion of fake news. “As you are aware, we are faced with the proliferation of misinformation, disinformation and false narratives which threaten the fabric of our society, and it is our collective duty to combat this menace. Through fact-checking, responsible reporting, promoting media and digital literacy, we can fortify our defences against the corrosive effects of fake news.”
Break news, not fabrics of society –Gov Eno
Echoing the views of the President Tinubu, Governor Eno urged the media to pay increased attention to issues that would help in fixing Nigeria’s challenges.
He urged newsmen to engender good governance in their news reportage to advance Nigeria’s democracy and admonished that dishing out stories that paint the country in negative image have potential of damaging the interest of investors in the nation.
“In trying to break the news, don’t break the fabrics of the society. We need the society. I want to plead that you use a new template of reportage, one that is development-oriented, where our leaders are called to account without being overly obtrusive. You need the nation first in order to freely practise your profession. We must stop running our country down, they affect the interest of foreign investors in our country,” the governor said.
Eno, who hailed NGE for choosing Akwa Ibom as venue of the conference, argued that a healthy collaboration between the government and media was important in the search for a solution to Nigeria’s challenges.
The governor cited projects being executed by his government, especially in the area of road construction, agriculture and increased economic activities. He also disclosed he has introduced bursary awards to students from the state and said he will continue to execute projects started by previous administration.
Earlier, Chairman of the conference and Publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, Sam Amuka, warned the media against reneging on its responsibility of holding government accountable. He said journalists must continue to expose fraud in government and promote issues and matters that are in the interest of the society and masses.
However, he cautioned against promotion of fake news, insisting reporting the truth always must be non-negotiable. “You must always publish the truth.”
The publisher noted that the prevailing economic hardship which, he said, has put pressure on Nigerians and firms, including the media calls for every media house embracing technology and online news platform.
According to him, apart from economic realities making it difficult for news consumers to buy hard copies of newspapers, many people have embraced online because it offers faster news delivery.
Monitor government closely – LCC ex-DG
Supporting the call for media managers to embrace technology and new model of doing business, former director general of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Muda Lawal Yusuf, said the media must monitor government more closely and ensure the right is done.
“The media should champion the cause for quality of economic governance consistent with tested economic principles and empirical evidence, and contextualized within socio-economic peculiarities.
“This is critical for signalling investors’ confidence. We would like to see an economy where there is a level playing field for all players with a transparent economic policy formulation process and robust competition framework. Nigeria is blessed with a good crop of entrepreneurs. The government should expand the role of the private sector in all sectors for value delivery and boosting of investment in the economy. This should be complemented with appropriate regulatory framework.
“Robust monitoring and evaluation framework to regularly review the effectiveness and impact of economic policies and regulatory practices. Robust and regular stakeholder engagement by key government agencies to ensure properly alignment of policies with investors sentiments.”
He maintained that the challenging economic landscape required media houses to pay attention to new opportunities provided by technologies.
Although he hailed some economic policies being undertaken by government, he submitted they were not enough to address the challenges faced by the media unless they court technology. “Media houses need to strengthen their digital infrastructure to enable them compete in the digital pace.”
Like previous speakers, he charged the media to avoid fake news.
Managing Director of Leadership Newspaper, Azu Ishiekwene, emphasised the benefits of technologies and enjoined the media to embrace them.
Promote citizens’ access to information –Eze Anaba
In an address of welcome, the NGE President, Eze Anaba, urged members to do more to promote citizens’ access to information. He said access to information would enhance participatory democracy and encourage good governance.
“Without access to information, this form of governance is not possible.
“Information creates the opportunity to discuss a range of available options and to take part in meaningful public policy discussions and informed political debates.
“Information allows the public to hold a government accountable by creating a public awareness of the government’s conduct.
“It is for this reason that the theme of this year’s annual conference is: “Stimulating Economic Growth, Technological Advancement: Role of the Media,” he said.
Anaba said about 300 media executives and senior editors gathered for the conference.
He said the conference would also examine Nigerian media sustainability, the existential threat of the Big Tech and the way forward.
The NGE president urged editors and other media professionals to continue to ensure balanced, accurate, factual and timely news reporting, which he described as the hallmark of journalism.