A media expert, Dan Agbese, on Saturday charged the Nigerian media to tackle national issues boldly by speaking truth to power, to bring the about desired changes.
Agbese, who was Chairman at the 2019 Biennial Convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Lagos, however, noted that the Nigerian media was struggling for survival and urged all hands to be on deck to rescue it.
He said that the media landscape in the country has been struggling for survival and that with dwindling revenues, the media industry must review its strategies to remain afloat, and stressed the need for collaboration between the various media organisations.
Agbese, therefore, called on media professionals to be modest and humble but to speak truth to those in power.
He said: “It is wiser for us to cooperate so that they can continue to survive for now,’’ he said, urging that they should endeavour to rise to the various challenges confronting the nation, so as to bring about the desired revolution.
“We must begin to do much more. We must start by speaking truth to power.’’
He lamented worsening security problems in the nation and called on Federal and State Governments whose responsibility it is to tackle the issue to rise up to the challenge.
Agbese also lamented the rising unemployment rate in the country which he warned media stakeholders to guard against by evolving new strategies for the survival of the industry.
In a message, the IGP, Adamu Mohammed, said that the Police authority was doing its best to combat insecurity in the country.
Mohammed, who was represented by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, called for the support of all Nigerians to root out banditry, terrorism and all forms of criminality in the nation.
Earlier in her speech, the NGE president, Funke Egbemode, promised to create more interactive platforms to improve on communication and feedback between the Guild and its members.
She commended the efforts of past leaders of the guild and reeled successes recorded by her administration in the last two years, which she said included improvements in facilities, as well as the guild’s assets.
Egbemode said that the union had commenced the construction of a N500 million commercial plaza expected to serve as space for Abuja Editors and rental accommodation for some businesses.
She said: “This current Exco inherited N50 million from the Femi Adesina administration and has grown it, as at Dec. 2018, to N59m.’’
Over 300 editors are attending the guild’s two-day 2019 Biennial Convention which is expected to elect new officers for another two-year tenure.
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