By Emmanuel Uffot
On Wednesday November 15, 2023 editors, publishers, veteran journalists that have made it to the pinnacle of media profession across Nigeria had converged in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State for a 3- day conference.
Promoted by the Nigeria Guild of Editors ( NGE), the 19th All Editors Annual Conference which took place at the Ibom Resort Hotel was declared open by Governor Umo Eno.
In his opening remarks at the opening ceremony, Pastor Umo Eno called on media practitioners to be more circumspect in their line of duty to avoid breaking the fabrics of the society through unsubstantiated breaking news.
He advocated for high concentration on developmental journalism for the greater good of the society.
He noted that the media plays a critical role in shaping the society, adding that magnifying the challenges of the society through negative reportage, and demonising the symbols of authority was akin to the proverbial ill wind that blows nobody any good.
“Permit me to say that the growth of any society is predicated on how such a society is being defined, its national ethos, characteristics, identity and defining values.
“If there is a constant drib-drib of negative reportage, where the challenges of the process of our nation-building are overly magnified and our symbols of authority, randomly demonized and our potentials routinely talked down on, in spite of how large such a market may be, foreign investors will be wary of coming to such a volatile environment.
“I want to plead that you use the media, to engender a new template of reportage, one that is developmental-oriented, where our leaders are called to account without being overly obtrusive.
“No one desires a plaint media that acts like the cheer-leaders to the government, but in trying to break the news, we should be careful not to break the fabric of the society. You need the nation first in order to freely practice your profession,” he added.
The Governor who was Guest of Honour at the occasion expressed the delight of the government and people of Akwa Ibom State over the assemblage of the media topshots and commended the Nigerian media for the robust role played in advocating justice, equity and fair play.
He also extolled the inclusive disposition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in governance, irrespective of party lines, describing as apt the theme of the Conference which he affirmed, seeks to examine critical issues in the nation as they relate to the role of the media.
He thanked the media for the support given him so far since his assumption of office and used the occasion to highlight his achievements in various key sectors which include but not limited to agriculture, rural development, infrastructural maintenance, security management, education, aviation, and others in line with the ARISE Agenda.
Flagging off the 2023 edition of the conference, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was represented by the Minister of Information and National Re-orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, congratulated the Eze Anaba- led Executive of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and paid tribute to Alhaji Lateef kayode Jakande as well as other progenitors of the revered Guild of Editors.
He described the conference as a gathering of the elites of the Journalism profession and the role in shaping public opinion as invaluable.
The President who charged media practitioners to use their agenda setting role to advocate positive values and complement efforts of government said, “I use this opportunity to restate our commitment to the freedom of the press and the provision of the necessary environment to enable the media to perform it’s constitutionally assigned role, holding the government accountable.
“I urge you, our esteemed editors to be vigilant, and help clearing our media space of the ills of the fake news, misinformation, disinformation and malinformation which portend great danger for our country,” he stated.
Also speaking at day one of the conference, the Governor of Cross River State, Prince Bassey Otu, represented by his Commissioner for Information, Mr. Erasmus Ekpang, called on leaders in the media profession to device means of managing the proliferating trend of unedited media articles through social media platforms and cautioned against the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) which, he said, was capable of misleading, if not checked.
In their remarks, Chairman of the Conference and Founder of Vanguard Newspaper, Mr. Sam Amuka and the President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba advocated participatory democracy and respect to the rule of law for a better Nigeria, even as they thanked Governor Umo Eno for the hospitality extended to members of the Guild who trooped in from across the country for the 19th annual conference.
At the heat of the conference which had in attendance Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser as Guest Speaker, he lamented about the protracted insecurity situation in the country. Stressing that allowing insurgency, Boko Haram, kidnapping, banditry and South East unrest to fester too long has not only taken its toil but has equally affected oil production due to insecurity in operational environment in the Niger Delta.
The NSA called on the media to join hands in ridding the country of criminal elements through patriotic expository reportage.
Delivering the first paper at the conference, entitled ‘ 2023 General Assessment of Political Landscape Monitors Perspective’ Mr Ray Ekpu former Editor- In- Chief of Newswatch magazine said even as election are over the chaotic fall out has refused to go away.
He called for a soul searching among the players specifically, INEC, security agencies, judiciary and the media which he assert has a very critical role to play.
” The election are gone but the remnants are still there. The Vituperation are still there and Nigeria is struggling to overcome.
“Our media role in the election is as important as the role of other people involved in it. The security agencies, INEC and the judiciary. In our various publications we say all eyes on INEC before election and after election it is all eyes on the judiciary. Now the judiciary has finished,it is all eyes on the media”.
The veteran journalist posed a pertinent soul searching question, whether the media did their job properly, fairly, ethically and professionally.
He noted that, that is the key area the conference should talk about because it affects the trajectory of the media profession.
Another speaker Chima Amadi, a political scientist, activist and public commentator on national issues took a swipe at the politicians for their indulgence in winner takes all mentality which has posed the greatest challenge to the electoral processes and democracy in Nigeria.
He also knocked INEC, Judiciary and security agencies for failing in the discharge of their duties which compromise the electoral process.
Other presenters included Mr Richard Akinola who spoke on media, law, ethics and imperative of professionalism.
The conference also had a panel of discussion on the Broadcasting and National Broadcasting, Identifying Areas for Reforms.
Other side activities of the conference included a Gala Night for the Editors hosted by the state government and a tour of projects in the state.
But the highlight of the 19th All Editors Annual Conference in Uyo to an average Akwa Ibom person especially those in government circle was the Award of Excellence that was given to the Governor by the Eze Anaba led Nigeria Guild of Editors.
Delivering the award at the Gala Night to round off the conference held at the Banquet hall Government House on behalf the Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE President Anaba said Pastor Eno was honoured with an Excellence Award in good governance as well as his media-friendly disposition. And described him as a beacon of hope for Nigeria.
Receiving the Award, the Governor thanked the Guild for recognizing the efforts of his administration in delivering good governance to Akwa Ibom people and to justify the mandate entrusted on him.
He appreciated the NGE for choosing Akwa Ibom State for their 19th Conference and reaffirmed the readiness of the state government to collaborate with the media to tell the Akwa Ibom story which according to him, is written with a focus on the ARISE Agenda.
Governor Eno “We are open to collaborate with you as much as possible to tell the Akwa Ibom story. The thing we do may not be so big, but we trust that you can help us tell the story behind those little things we do to affect the lives of the common people.”
Explaining the commitment of his administration to the ARISE Agenda, Governor Eno said the State has been blessed with great leaders who have raised the bar in infrastructure, adding that it was necessary to better the lives of the citizenry, who dwell mostly in rural areas by connecting the dots.
“For us, we have been blessed with infrastructure in our state, we feel that there’s need to connect our rural people to those infrastructure. That’s why we are giving them those basic things. I have discovered through our needs assessment that those rural people don’t need much, they just need consistency with the basic necessities of life, and we are committed to providing those basic needs. Talk to us where you think we’re not doing well, we welcome such interface.”
Gov Eno invited the Editors to attend the month-long celebration of Christmas, especially the 2023 edition of the Ibom Christmas Carol slated for 15th of December at the Unity Park, Uyo.
In his remarks, the National President of the NGE, Mr. Eze Anaba extolled the Governor Umo Eno led government for raising the bar in governance through the ARISE Agenda.
He reaffirmed the need and benefits of continuum in governance as evident in the success stories in the different sectors of the State, adding that Governor Eno has revealed to the world the possibility of a better Nigeria.
“Akwa Ibom State has shown us the possibilities in Nigeria. Akwa Ibom State has proven that we can have a good country. Akwa Ibom has debunked some theories that only the private sector can drive an economy, with the success of Ibom Air, you have indeed given hope for a better Nigeria,” the NGE President affirmed.
The Conference ended on Friday November 17, though as at the time of this report the Editors did not issue their Communique.
Notable faces at the Conference were Otunba Segun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State who was Father of the Day, Mr Sam Amuka, Publisher of Vanguard Newspaper and Chairman of the occasion, Mr Ray Ekpu co- founder of Newswatch who presented first paper, Gbenga Adefaye ex- President of NGE, Gbenga Aruleba of AIT, Azubuike Oshiekwene MD Leadership Newspapers, Steve Nwosu GM Nigerian Express Newspaper, Silas Nwoba, Editor -In- Chief of NAN, Who Braimah ,Publisher of Naija Times, Maureen Chigbo Editor- In – Chief of Realnews Online Magazine and at the home front Anietie Usen, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on media and publicity.
