“Towards a Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria: Media Role and Agenda”

 “Media Should Be A Place for Clarity, Knowledge, Understanding”- Laolu Akade

By: Kehinde Adekunjo

Nigeria journalists have been charged to make the media a place for clarity, knowledge and understanding for the sustenance of democratic system, national growth and development of the country.

Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the Vice President of Nigeria on Media and Communication Mr Olaolu Akande gave charge recently as the guest lecturer at “2022 Press week” of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalist, Ogun State Chapter.   

When speaking on the theme “Towards a Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria: Media Role and Agenda”, Mr Akande advised journalists that, media must be a place for knowledge but not just a place for controversy and sensation. As such, the media must not be responsible for creating sensation or controversy.

Expatiating further that, “It is not out of place that the media thrives on controversy and sensation but, the media should not succumb to over reportage of controversy”. Instead, the media should be a place where people get understanding and more knowledgeable about national or political issues.

More so, according to the SSA, to achieve sustainable democracy and development in Nigeria, the media must be a place where public spirit is dominant. That is, journalists must promote public interest by playing down private interest. Most especially, where private interest antagonizes the public interest.

Laolu Akande affirmed that, “public spirit is the only way that we can interact in the public space for us to have a sense of common value, common objectives, common decency and behavior that promotes togetherness   for sustainable democracy and development”.

Moving forward, the SSA to Vice President of Nigeria on Media  and Communication opined that, the credibility of the media is non-negotiable. Saying “If the media is not believable there is no news”. Meaning, the journalists in a democratic setting for sustainable development must be reliable. So that, the electorates must be able to trust media contents and they must believe information dished out by the media.    

Above all, to achieve sustainable democracy and development  Laolu Akande advised that, journalists in Nigeria must ensure fairness, truth, accuracy, objectivity and balance in their investigative, interpretative, opinion articles, editorials and other reportage. That is, when doing a report, the questions in their minds should be “Is it fair?” Is it objective?, “Is it accurate?”, “Is it the truth?”, “Is it balance?”. But not “Will it trend?” as we have it today.  

 

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