By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
The Nigerian media must ensure “more democracy,more accountability,more rule of law,more interest in diverse voices and the interest of the poor” in the discharge of their statutory responsibility to the country.
Mrs Eugenia Abu, , Managing Partner/CEO,The Eugenia Abu Media, stated this on Thursday while delivering a convocation lecture at the 5th convocation lecture of Salem University, Lokoja.
Abu, who is also Executive Director programmes NTA, Abuja,spoke on the topic,”Beyond The 2023 Elections:The Role of The Media in Deepening Democracy in Nigeria”,also called on the media to be determined to deepen democracy outside the electíon cycle.
She said,”Democracy, indeed,is what comes after 2023; lifestyle,an egalitarian society, rule of law, freedom of expression and other such related matters.
According to her, deepening democracy beyond the 2023 elections must be for the Nigerian media a noble duty,a task and a responsibility.
The broadcast Journalist, however, stressed the need for the media to be conscious of the fact that, all citizens are equal before the law and must realise that those voices such as women, physically challenged, and the youth among others must not be excluded from the mainstream.
The media expert said after 2023 electíon, the media must continue in its role as the democratic vanguard and be robust in addressing all the essentials of democracy.
She added that in doing this, the media must stand up to be counted, be the people’s accountability officers for those they voted to power and in the four years” in between assist us all to pursue democratic ideals.”
“Governnent at every level must enable the media to be robust and active. They must provide the enabling environment for the media to carry out its constitutional duties.
“Self actualization: People working in the media must not wait for their employeers to get some training.
“It is critical that employers must do the needful, media organizations must train their staff to ensure maximum and quality output.
“But beyond this, the individual media personality should pick up the gauntlet to be the best that they can possibly be and engage in building themselves up.”
Our Correspondent reports that the occasion was graced by the Vice Chancellor of the university,Prof. Johnson Alewu, other dignitaries, including the husband of the lecturer, Mr Thompson Abu as well as Journalists and students.
