Ganduje task editors to be conflict-sensitive as NGE Biennial Convention holds in Kano
Ahmad Sorondinki, Kano
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Monday opened the 2021 Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) Biennial Convention, themed “The Media in COVID-19 Era : Challenges and Opportunities,” in Kano.
On the occasion, Mustapha Isah was elected as president of the guild for a two-year tenure. He had been its acting president.
Ganduje said the event was an opportunity to look into national development as it relates to media practice.
His words: “It is very important at this time that we should use the media for the promotion of peace and stability and change the viewpoints that could alter public views and sentiment toward a more peaceful resolution of our multifaceted current crises.
“If and only if we as a nation are interested in peace and harmony, we must reject hate propaganda machinery. In the main, this is a time Editors should be conflictsensitive about our nation.”
He however, lamented that, crossing of redlines by some media organisations and practitioners in recent times had impacted on the nation’s unity, harmony and integration.
He remarked: “Our brave, collective pursuit in uniting this nation, underscores the fact that for as long as we have a common purpose, we will find no obstacle big enough to stop us from marching on. The media and particularly our gatekeepers have a role to play in this regard.”
He urged media practitioners to look into social responsibility aspect of their practice for national development, maintaining that the call for freedom of the Press must be matched with observance of and respect for ethical standards.
In his remarks the President of NGE, Mustapha Isa, appreciated the presence of the governor at the event, acknowledging that Kano has been transformed into a more modern city-state.
Professor Umar Pate, Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Kashere, commended Ganduje’s efforts in maintaining good working relationship with the media.
He explained that fake news affects media credibility and development urging practitioners to stick to ethical standard while increasingly using technology.
Present at the event also were a former governor of Ogun State, Chief Aremu Olusegun Osoba; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Garba Shehu; former Presidents of the Nigerian Guild of Editors; erstwhile and serving presidents of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, among many other captains of the media industry.
