… As Eno Urges Editors To Embrace Development – Oriented Approach In Their Reports
By Ngwuoke Ngwuoke
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that his administration is committed to promoting a free and robust media without any encumbrances in the country.
The President made the pledge in a message to the opening of the 19th All Nigeria Editors’Conference (ANEC) taking place at Uyo, the Akwa Ibom capital.
In the message read by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris Magaji, Tinubu also urges the media practitioners to phase out misinformation, disinformation and fake news in the profession.
” My administration is committed to a free and robust media practice in Nigeria. We have no intention to stifle the media.
“As a body, you should stick to the ethics of the profession. Rid the media of misinformation, disinformation and fake news which had creeped in the journalism profession.
Speaking in his capacity as Minister of Information, Idris Magaji pledged: “I will say what is truthful and factual” and urged practitioners to always report “what is important”.
Welcoming delegates to Uyo, Governor Umoh Bassey Eno, described the theme of the conference, “Stimulating Economic Growth, Technological Advancement: Role Of The Media” as apt and timely.
Eno however observed that the growth of any society is predicated on how the society is designed.
” No society can grow in an atmosphere of insecurity, obstruction and uncertainty.
“The Nigerian media should be development – oriented. They should call leaders to account without being obstructive.
” Don’t break the fabric of the society,” Eno advised.
The Chairman of the occasion, Mr Sam Amuka, further harped on the theme of holding public officers accountable. He said the watchdog role of the Media places a responsibility of practitioners to hold public officers accountable to their actions and utterances.
Citing a statement made by President Tinubu on his inauguration that “fuel subsidy is gone” Amuka, who is founder and publisher of Vanguard Newspaper told editors, “your job is to make people in government accountable.
“Tell the truth, respect the government, respect yourself.
“Editing is knowing what to leave out”, Amuka counseled.
In an address of welcome earlier, the President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba, said the theme of the conference was designed to enable delegates to examine the present economic environment in the country, which he noted is leaving millions of Nigerians in poverty.
“It is for this reason that the theme of this year’s annual conference is ” Stimulating Economic Growth, Technological Advancement: Role of the Media.”
“Economists, tech experts, and technocrats from both within and outside the country, academics, Amon others, will examine the burning issues, including the role of the Editors in shaping the narrative and stemming the challenges.
More than 300 senior Editors drawn from the print and electronic media as well as on-line publishers are attending the 4 – day conference which will also feature the induction of new members into the Guild, elevation of some deserving members to the Fellowship cadre and the launching of a Trust Fund to empower Editors and other journalists through legal and general support.
