FG TO PARTNER WITH MEDIA PROFESSIONALS IN DELIVERY OF GOOD GOVERNANCE 08-12-23
By Sadiq Aminu The Federal Government wants media professioners to be partners with it in the delivery of good governance by publicizing people oriented policies and programmes of the current administration in the interest of the masses and the overall good of the country.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris made the call in Lagos, at the Second edition of the Nigeria Union of Journalists ,NUJ, Milestone Recognition of Media Icons in Nigeria.
Alhaji Idris said that the laudable packages that President Bola Tinubu had in stock to better the lots of Nigerians and build a brighter future for the country would not be actualised without the help of the media which is expected to publicise the programmes.
Alhaji Idris who was was represented by the Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Dr. Mohammed Bulama noted that part of the Federal government’s interventions to improve on the living standard of Nigerians was the launch of a 75 billion naira fund to support businesses.
According to him, “As Government, we need you, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, and the press as a whole, more than ever before. Hold us accountable for what we promise and what we do, but also help us in this collective task of building a Nigeria that works for each and every one of its two hundred million citizens.
“Continually remind us of our pledges and promises, and even our shortcomings, while also applying the same energy towards amplifying and communicating the programs and policies we are putting in place to transform Nigeria.
“And there is indeed a lot to cover in that regard, from our painful but inevitable and ultimately beneficial reforms around the petrol subsidy and foreign exchange, to our social welfare expansion efforts, MSME support programs, tax reforms, food security initiatives, transportation palliatives, support to State Governments, and many more.
“Just this week, the Federal Government launched an SME support programme, the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme and Palliative Programs, targeting traders, artisans, transporters, vendors, and creatives with grants and low-cost loans. One million nano-businesses – the smallest businesses in the country – will benefit from grants of N50,000 each, while bigger businesses will be eligible to enjoy access to single-digit-interest loans from a 75 Billion Naira Fund”. he said
In the area of rebranding the country, the minister said he had put together a committee of renowned experts to work on and finalize a value Charter for Nigeria in line with President Tinubu’s desire for true and sustained reorientation of national values and attitudes.
He therefore, sought media collaboration for the success of the programmes.
“This new Charter, which will be unveiled by the President early next year, will consist of a Nigerian Promise, and Citizen Codes, defining our core values as Nigerians, while taking into full account our ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversities. It will seek to entrench in all Nigerians a balanced understanding of our rights as well as our responsibilities as citizens of the greatest black nation on earth.
“This Committee has two weeks to submit its final report, and it goes without saying that your support as the media will make a huge difference in terms of this assignment. Without you, we will not succeed in this vital mission.”
While commending the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, for instituting the award to honour icons in the media industry, Alhaji Idris who was the Chairman of the occasion emphasized that those awarded really stood out.
He said that their dedication to nation building showed that professional excellence in journalism could coexist with the virtue of patriotism and love for the country.
“I am also grateful for the honour extended to me to be the chairman of this year’s edition, presiding over the recognition of industry ‘greats’ like Mr. Ray Ekpu, Chief Henry Odukomaiya, Dr. Danladi Bako and Aremo Taiwo Alimi.
None of them needs any introduction in this esteemed profession of ours, the 4th Realm of the Estate.
“These are true icons, pioneers, achievers, record-setters and record-breakers, who have not only made their personal mark on the industry, but also raised generations of successful professionals.
“I want to urge us all to emulate these icons being honoured today. To strive to leave our mark on this profession, to leave it better and more ennobled than we met it.
One thing that stands all these honorees out, is their unalloyed dedication to nation-building, to the development and progress of Nigeria.
Let me once again thank you for putting this event together, and congratulate all the 2023 honorees. We will continue to do our best to build on the huge professional legacies that you have bequeathed to us”, he said.
A former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, who was the Father of the Day said that the NUJ deserved commendation for the wise decision to celebrate it’s veterans in their lifetime.
Chief Osoba who is a media icon, said that the society owed professionals in the media industry alot for their huge contribution to nation building, while describing the gathering as an array of the best and biggest names in the pen profession.
The keynote speaker, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State noted that the media had done so well for the country and as such urged the professionals to put in more efforts at holding leaders accountable and championing a Nigerian society that ensured equal rights for all persons as well as guaranteed free and fair elections.
The governor , represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed Kashim stressed the need to curtail activities of some online media platforms that had no regard for media ethics.
In a welcome address, the Chief Host, and President of NUJ, Dr. Chris Isiguzo, said that the award served dual purposes of celebrating the extraordinary contributions of the media icons and using the impressive stories of the icons to spur the younger ones to strive for excellence in the discharge of their duties.
Singling out Late Raymond Dokpesi for making great impact in the media industry, he requested that a minute silence should be observed in the honour of the.deceased.
A total of Seventeen outstanding veterans and elders in the nation’s media landscape were honoured at the event including the founder of Newswatch, Ray Ekpu and a Celebrated Mass Communication Scholar, Professor Ralph Akinfeleye.
The Governor of Bauchi State was awarded the media-friendly Governor of the Year.