Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, has emphasised the critical role of the media in shaping Nigeria’s image and addressing national security concerns.
She spoke at the 4th International Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria.
At the event at the University of Abuja, Dabiri-Erewa highlighted the multifaceted security challenges facing the country,
Represented by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the Commission’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit, she said the challenges include insurgency, terrorism, inter-communal violence, cybersecurity threats, economic inequality, social unrest, and external threats.
“The media, as a powerful tool for information dissemination, plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and influencing the government’s response to these challenges,” she stated.
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Dabiri-Erewa urged the media to maintain a high level of responsibility, ethics, and professionalism in their reporting, as well as ensuring accurate and objective information dissemination.
She also called for the media to partner with the government to foster a more secure and prosperous Nigeria.
A renowned Professor of Mass Communication, Ralph Akinfeleye, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of AMCRON, echoed the importance of national security, reiterating its role in protecting lives, property, and the nation’s interests.
The Board Chairman highlighted various threats to the country’s security, including kidnapping, banditry, fuel subsidy issues, strikes, economic struggles, mass migration, and others.
Akinfeleye urged the press to be free and independent in their roles of informing, setting agendas, monitoring, and educating the masses.
He also called for fair regulation of both traditional and online media to ensure responsible news dissemination.
Retired Air Vice Marshal Saddiq Ishmaila Kaita, Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Abuja, underscored the significant role of the media in sensitising the public and promoting active participation in electoral and government activities.
Kaita emphasised the importance of accurate news reporting in dispelling fear and fostering a sense of duty in the face of crises.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of University of Abuja, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, highlighted the evolving nature of national security and the need for the media to combat vices that threaten it.
She stressed the importance of accurate, balanced, and ethical reporting and warned against the dangers of propaganda, sensationalism, and the misuse of social media.
Maikudi called on the media to act as watchdogs in society, ensuring transparency and accountability in governance.
Goodwill messages were received from security and media experts as well as other stakeholders in the country.
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