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

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s population sector have called on the Federal Government to urgently conduct a National Population and Housing Census, insisting it is critical to harnessing the country’s demographic dividend.

The call was made in Abuja during an event to commemorate the 2025 World Population Day, where participants stressed that credible demographic data is essential for national planning and sustainable development.

Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Mr. Nasir Kwarra, said although the World Population Day is globally observed on July 11, Nigeria must reflect deeply on the significance of this year’s theme — “Empowering Young People to Create the Families They Want in a Fair and Hopeful World.”

Kwarra noted that investing in young people and protecting their reproductive rights and aspirations remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing development priorities.

He warned that while global population growth is slowing and ageing populations are a concern in many countries, Nigeria’s youthful population presents both a challenge and a unique opportunity.

“More than 60% of Nigeria’s population is under the age of 30 — that’s over 130 million young people whose dreams, potential, and aspirations must be at the centre of our national development agenda,” he stated.

Kwarra said Nigeria’s youth — defined in the Nigeria Youth Policy (2024-2028) as those aged 15-29 — constitute 28.9% of the population, estimated at 64.4 million people.

“These are not just statistics. They are our students, our workers, and our future leaders. This is not a crisis, but a powerful opportunity. If properly harnessed, this demographic structure can drive innovation, productivity, and inclusive growth,” Kwarra emphasised.

He urged stakeholders to prioritise investments in quality education, skills development, sexual and reproductive health, family planning, and governance reforms that foster youth participation.

Kwarra said the 2025 State of World Population Report shows young people globally are not simply opting for fewer children by choice but are often constrained by uncertain futures, limited access to healthcare, education, employment, and affordable housing.

He stressed that Nigeria must tackle these concerns with empathy, innovation, and data-driven solutions, adding that development partners, civil society, and the private sector have a role in creating fairness, opportunity, and intergenerational equity.

The NPC Chairman reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to generating accurate and disaggregated population data to support evidence-based policies, saying Nigeria’s future hinges on empowering its young people.

“Together, we can make Nigeria not just a youthful nation, but a hopeful one,” he said.

UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative, Mr. Koesan Kuawu, also called for urgent family-friendly policies and investments in youth, reiterating the need for a national census to guide Nigeria’s development.

Similarly, Chairman of the House Committee on National Identity and Population, Mr. Okunjimi Odimayo, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the conduct of a national census, describing it as vital for credible data, national planning, and sustainable growth.

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Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State on Tuesday disbursed ₦2.06 billion in gratuity payments to over 1,000 local government retirees, pushing total payments since 2019 to ₦25.626 billion.

The governor also inaugurated newly reconstituted statutory boards and commissions to strengthen institutional service delivery across the state.

Speaking at the gratuity payment event, Governor Yahaya described settling retirees’ entitlements as a “sacred duty”, adding that his administration inherited over ₦21 billion in unpaid gratuities from previous governments.

“Through disciplined financial management, we have cleared inherited arrears and commenced payment of obligations accrued under our administration,” the governor said.

According to him, the state targets complete clearance of gratuity liabilities by 2027 through quarterly disbursements and prudent fiscal planning.

Governor Yahaya said the latest payments were based on each local government’s financial capacity, with retirees from Kwami, Nafada, and Funakaye LGAs receiving payments for 2023, while Akko, Billiri, and Shongom settled those from 2016 and 2017. Other LGAs such as Dukku, Balanga, Gombe, Kaltungo, and Yamaltu Deba will cover retirees from earlier years, dating back to 2014.

Chairman of the Committee on Payment of Gratuities and State Auditor-General, Mr. Muhammad Buba Gombe, commended the governor for clearing backlogs that past administrations ignored.

He urged retirees to deploy the funds wisely to sustain their livelihoods post-service.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Malam Umar Abdu Maude lauded the gesture, describing it as a “life-saving” move for retirees long neglected by previous governments.

“In the past, we were given false hopes. Many died of hunger and untreated health conditions. But today, we are smiling to the banks,” he said.

The event featured a symbolic cheque presentation to some retirees, including those who left service as far back as 2014.

Meanwhile, Governor Yahaya, through the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, also inaugurated newly reconstituted boards and commissions.

The SSG said the appointments reflect the governor’s commitment to inclusive governance, adding that the boards are key to public service delivery.

“We are confident that with their proven competence, these boards will rise to the occasion,” Prof. Njodi said.

He urged the appointees to bring dedication and professionalism to their mandates, assuring them of the government’s support.

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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged the Kano State Government to prioritise the welfare and development of children in its budgeting and planning processes.

Chief of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, Mr Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, made the appeal during a media dialogue on child-sensitive budgeting and planning in Kano State.

Mr Farah emphasised the urgent need for deliberate action to safeguard the well-being of children in the state, warning that Kano’s future depended on the strategic investment in child health, education, and protection.

“We must act urgently to prioritise the well-being and development of children in Kano State’s budgets and plans,” Mr Farah said.

The event, which convened government officials, civil society leaders, and media practitioners, underscored the critical role of budgeting in addressing pressing child-related challenges.

Mr Farah expressed concern over alarming rates of child mortality, malnutrition, and limited access to education in Kano, calling for a targeted response from policymakers.

He stressed the need for child-sensitive budgeting that allocates sufficient resources to vital programmes, ensures expenditure tracking, and delivers measurable outcomes.

“We need budgets that truly reflect the needs of our children — budgets that allocate sufficient resources to critical programmes, track spending, and report on outcomes,” he said.

Stakeholders at the dialogue issued a call to action, urging the Kano State Government to institutionalise child-sensitive budgeting, increase funding for child-focused initiatives, and enhance transparency and accountability in budget execution.

PIAK