Stakeholders have reaffirmed the indispensable role of the media in safeguarding democracy and advancing national development, describing it as a powerful amplifier of citizens’ voices and a watchdog for good governance.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, stated this in Abuja at the Blueprint Public Lecture, Impact Series, and Awards.
Akume said the media remains a critical pillar in democratic societies, playing a dual role of empowering citizens and curbing governmental excesses.
“In every thriving democracy, the press stands as an unyielding guard against governmental excesses, empowering citizens through informed reportage and investigative journalism,” he said.
He emphasised that the media’s relevance extends beyond politics, highlighting its role in shaping public discourse, promoting civic engagement, and holding institutions accountable.
“The media guards the conscience, informs public opinion, shifts discourse, and holds leaders accountable,” Akume said.
He added that the media also promotes innovation and highlights solutions capable of inspiring national progress.
“Most importantly, the media promote solutions, innovations, and recognise such stories that can inspire progress across all sectors,” he said, while commending President Tinubu’s administration for recognising the significance of the media’s role.
On the lecture theme, “Exploring the Potentials of Livestock Exports,” Akume said it aligns with the government’s renewed focus on the livestock sector’s capacity to drive industrial growth, foreign trade, and address national challenges.
“The establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development clearly underscores the importance the president attaches to unlocking the vast potentials in this sector,” he said.
Akume noted that despite Nigeria’s abundant livestock resources, the country is yet to fully harness opportunities in meat, dairy, hides, skins, and processed exports.
“This government is assured that through ongoing strategic investment, infrastructure development, value chain enhancement, and regional trade facilitation, livestock shall become the cornerstone of Nigeria’s socio-economic transformation, especially in rural communities,” he said.
He also congratulated the awardees, acknowledging their contributions to national development and public service.
“Your contributions to national development, sectoral excellence, and public service are deeply appreciated,” he said.
Chairman of the occasion and Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Oladele Alake, challenged journalists to master diverse fields, insisting that the profession demands both breadth and depth of knowledge.
“The nature of the profession demands a breadth and depth of knowledge across countless domains to effectively educate and influence public opinion,” Alake said.
He expressed disappointment at the decline of verification in media practice, particularly with the rise of unregulated social media platforms.
“One major concern is the increasing tendency to disseminate information without proper verification,” he said, warning that this trend has eroded journalism’s credibility.
Alake blamed the unchecked rise of social media for diluting professional standards.
“This democratisation of media space has eroded the standards and reliability once associated with professional journalism,” he said.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Blueprint Newspapers, Malam Salisu Umar, said the theme resonates with Nigeria’s aspirations to leverage livestock development for industrial growth, job creation, trade expansion, and security enhancement.
“The initiative underscores the pivotal role livestock can play in driving socio-economic progress,” Umar said.
He praised the awardees for their distinguished service to the nation.
“Choosing the awardees was a highly challenging task, akin to finding a needle in a haystack — but the selection team carried out this responsibility with integrity and diligence. The awardees come from diverse backgrounds, and their excellence, commitment, and impact on the nation are being honoured with well-deserved accolades,” he said.
Umar congratulated Blueprint’s board, management, and staff, encouraging them to sustain their commitment to national development.
“It is hoped that this honour will inspire them to do even more in contributing to Nigeria’s growth and advancement,” the MD/CEO added.
PIAK