Prestige Newspaper @32: Practitioners Reiterate Media Commitment To Nation Building

ABEOKUTA – Stakeholders in the media industry have described the media profession as an instrument for nation-building and the  last hope of the masses.

A former Director of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Eddy Aina while delivering a paper titled “The Role of Community Media In Nation Building”, at the 32nd Anniversary of Prestige Newspaper held at the NUJ hall, Abeokuta called on practitioners in the media industry to stand firm, describing them as solution providers for the Nation Building.

Eddy Aina while berating the lack of funds for media organizations, said some media can survive without the support of government, stressing that, the method of license issuing in the country is responsible for lack of fund for media houses.

“We as elites and media, we are not doing enough in building this Nation. Nations are build when people have the spirit give of give and take. Nations are build where justice is addressed, Nations are build when there is a conscious effort to build that Nation.

“The media has a role and proper people are to do that are politicians, policy maker women, Youths and everybody. When as a stakeholders we make up our minds that we want to push this Nation to stay, we will do it, but for now we are scattered.

“It is not every stations that had problem with funding. There are big ones that are patronized well. But there some especially in the rural areas outside the commercial mind set who need. Initially, NBC wanted us to be collecting Radio licence fee by normally pay to local government so that they can share to all the stations in this country, that is how we wanted it to be at NBC because that is what BBC does in Britain and no body complain about money because they collect radio licence fee, local government has nothing to do with it but here in Nigeria local government collect it and it is not useful. If the NBC is allowed to collect it and distribute all this things we are talking about will be easy.”

While commending Prestige Newspaper, a former Head Of Service in Ogun state, Mrs. Iyabo Odulate described the media organization has a reputable Newspaper with balanced and unbiased reporting without any record of litigation.

She opined that, media needs to have profit, it also needs to consider who needs its service.

From his part, the Publicity Secretary of All Progressive Congress in the state, Ambassador Tunde Oladunjoye charged the media to see their job as a tool for the unity of the nation.

“On the topic of Nation building, it is a challenge for everybody even our educational structure.

“What the media needs to do is to continue its basic obligation and expectation of education, information, entertainment and enlightenment. We will be continue to talk about what brings us together than what put us apart. Our colleagues should know that the media is very powerful. Don’t just assumed that what you are writing especially in this ages at the corner of your room it will have so many implications.”

Speaking earlier, the Publisher of Prestige Newspaper, Elder Dada Olanipekun enjoined colleagues in the profession to use ideas as their source of sustainability rather than collecting peanut which popularly called ‘Brown Envelope’ in return for their service.

“The journey has been tough and has turned me to somebody who has passion for this Journalism business, who believes in it, and who has been able to identify. If you are a Professionally trained person, you will want to practice and you won’t deviate from the ethical aspect of your Profession. Honestly, I feel proud and I feel good that God has been wonderful to me in terms of the sustainability of the Newspaper. Papers are dying and many things are wrong by either the publishers or reporters.

“It is our social responsibility to root for the citizens. They have nobody because they go up and down, they will come for you. The media must look at the pain people are going through and be able to identify the pain of the masses because the media too is within the masses. We are human beings too and we must make sure that the interest of the masses is our priority. You are practicing and you are not bothering about human beings or communities but you are only bothering about government. I’m afraid because those in government will leave and become citizens too and they will be running after you.

“I must confess to you. If you are a principle person and you want to achieve anything, you will achieve it. If the ethical aspect of media is properly done, you will survive too.”