Qasim Akinreti, Reporting from Uyo, Akwa Ibom
The President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr Eze Anaba, has rallied members to intensify efforts in promoting public access to information, stressing the pivotal role this plays in fostering participatory democracy and driving good governance.
Addressing attendees at the 19th All Nigeria Editors’ Conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Anaba emphasized that access to information is integral to enabling participatory democracy and endorsing 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,” he articulated.
Anaba further accentuated the significance of information in holding the government accountable and creating public awareness of its conduct. He underscored the conference’s theme of “Stimulating Economic Growth, Technological Advancement: Role of the Media” as a reflection of this key tenet.
This plea comes against the backdrop of the proliferation of fake news, misinformation, and unverified information disseminated by social media and non-professional journalists across the nation.
Delineating the magnitude of the event, Eze Anaba, who also serves as the Editor of Vanguard newspapers, disclosed the participation of approximately 300 media executives and senior editors. He elucidated that the conference is poised to scrutinize Nigerian media sustainability, the existential threat posed by Big Tech, and the conceivable way forward.
Inculcating the essence of responsible journalism, the NGE President urged editors and media professionals to perpetuate the dissemination of balanced, accurate, factual, and timely news reporting, which he deemed as the hallmark of journalism.
Subsequently, the Chairman of the occasion and Publisher of the Vanguard Newspaper, Mr Sam Amuka, expounded on the role of journalists as the societal conscience, cautioning against the propagation of false information.
“You must always publish the truth,” he conscientiously advised.
The three-day conference is slated to encompass presentations, discussions on the state of the media by eminent media experts and information managers, project tours, induction of new members, and a Gala Night, as reported by Voice of Nigeria.
Notably, the Director of News, Voice of Nigeria, Austeen Elewodalu, is set to be inducted into the esteemed fellows club of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, during the conference.
Additionally, the prestigious fellowship will also be conferred upon eminent individuals including former fellows of the Guild from VON such as Mr Okey Nwachukwu, former Executive Director of News, and the late Ben Egbuna, another former Executive Director of News and Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.
