By Segun Adegboyega
The Kogi State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has been urged to uphold professionalism, objectivity, accuracy, and equity in its reportage whereas supporting efforts to strengthen the nation’s financial system and democratic establishments.
The Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, spoke on the grand finale of the NUJ Kogi State Council Press Week, held on Wednesday on the Press Centre, Lokoja, the state capital.
The Press Week, themed “Professional and Ethical Standards in Election Reporting: The Journalist as a Guardian of Democracy,” offered a chance to replicate on the duties of journalists in selling credible elections and strengthening democratic governance.
Governor Ododo, represented by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo, cautioned journalists towards biased and sensational reporting, stressing the necessity for accountable journalism that promotes nationwide growth and helps free, honest, credible, and peaceable elections in 2027.
He famous that the financial reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have been designed to develop prosperity throughout the nation, citing the approval of a global airport and an financial metropolis in Ajaokuta as examples of initiatives anticipated to stimulate financial progress in Kogi State.
The governor additionally reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to repositioning and strengthening state-owned media organisations to allow them to discharge their duties successfully.
“We are committed to repositioning, reinvigorating and re-engineering all of our media houses in the state. The Executive Council has just approved the complete overhaul of the Radio Kogi House. We will fix it. This is to create an enabling environment for them to discharge their responsibilities to the state,” he acknowledged.
He recommended journalists within the state for his or her cooperation, objectivity and dedication to the ethics of the career, whereas urging them to prioritise their well being and wellbeing.
Governor Ododo additional disclosed that greater than 45 extra journalists within the state had been enrolled within the medical health insurance scheme.
In his keynote deal with, the visitor speaker, Alhaji Dahiru Mojeed, who was represented by the Technical Assistant to the Ministry of Information and Communications, Mr Ebenezer Adurodija, described the theme of the Press Week as well timed, noting that democracy doesn’t weaken solely when elections are cancelled but additionally when residents can not distinguish fact from falsehood, details from propaganda, and data from manipulation.
He defined that residents might make significant electoral selections solely after they had entry to correct, credible and balanced data, describing journalists as a significant bridge between political energy and public curiosity.
Alhaji Mojeed urged journalists to prioritise accuracy over velocity and integrity over private acquire, emphasising that the media remained indispensable to democratic governance.
Similarly, the NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahya Abdul, known as on journalists to uphold the ideas of accuracy, equity, steadiness, impartiality and accountability of their reportage, significantly because the nation prepares for one more election cycle.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the NUJ Kogi State Council described this yr’s Press Week as a interval of stocktaking, reflection, thanksgiving, service and celebration.
He appreciated Governor Ododo for his constant assist for the union and sustained collaboration with journalists within the state.
The chairman additionally expressed profound gratitude to Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo for serving as a bridge between the federal government and the media, assuring that the union would proceed to advertise goal, constructive and accountable journalism within the discharge of its duties.
