By Charles Abere.
Provision of a platform for the political parties and candidates to communicate their messages has been identified as one of the crucial roles played by the media in a democracy.
This was made known by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria, Professor Jeremiah Shola Omotola, while delivering a paper on the theme; 2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS AND ELECTORAL ISSUES IN NIGERIA: MEDIA PERSPECTIVES ON THE WAY FORWARD, during the Annual Public Lecture and Award Presentation of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Zone B, held in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital.
The university don stressed that apart from information, education, socialisation, watchdog and agenda setting, the media are also expected to scrutinise the electoral process itself in order to evaluate its fairness, efficiency and probity
Highlighting some of the issues that are critical for the success of the 2023 elections which include fake news and hate speech, social media platforms, political education and socialisation, inclusiveness/fairness in coverage and reporting, campaign messages/promises, political debates, election observation and objective reporting, Professor Omotola submitted that democracy in Nigeria, stability and development are deeply dependent on the success of the elections. “We need to be more vigilant than ever before”. Said the Professor.
In his keynote address, the SA Media to the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Akogun Tai Oguntayo, blamed the inability of some journalists to live up to expectation in the discharge of their duties on the lackadaisical attitudes of some of the owners of the media houses who do not care about the well being of their employees. This he said has really affected the display of core professionalism, saying no Journalist will be willing to go to the troubled areas for coverage without being paid.
Earlier, in her welcome address, the organiser and Vice President of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Zone B, Comrade Ronke Samo, said the programme was inspired by the need for public enlightenment, awareness creation, education,orientation and matters of national interest.
According to the VP, “we believe strongly that as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, the media owe Nigerians the duty to not only inform them across board, but also enlighten, educate, orientate and also bring to their knowledge certain matters and issue, and ultimately enable them to be more patriotic and useful for the overall development and growth of our country.
“People who are well informed, enlightened and properly orientated about matters that concern their lives as citizens of the country will be empowered to contribute meaningfully towards the development and growth of their nation”. This is what principally informed the Public Lecture”.
The event which was well attended by several journalists in the Southwest Nigeria also had in attendance dignitaries from all walks of life as awards were conferred on so many Nigerians that have impacted positively on humanity and the society apart from being excelled in the various field of endeavours. The award recipients include; the Publisher of Ekiti Standard Newspaper, Barrister Ose Ogunkorode, the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Wife of the Governor of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, the International Gospel Singer and Founder Fresh FM, Dr. Yinka Ayefele, His Royal Majesty, Oba Oladele Odugbemi, Olu of Lisa Kingdom, the CPS to Osun State Governor, Alhaji Ismail Omipidan, Publisher, Parrot Extra Magazine, Mr. Olayinka Agboola, the Commander, Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps) and Special Assistant to the Minister of Defense on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Abdulkadri.
