Former Governor of Rivers State and Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, alongside the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong are some of the prominent Nigerians who joined other key stakeholders to brainstorm on crucial issues affecting the practice of journalism in the country.
The event which was organised by the Nigerian Union of Journalists, ( NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council on Tuesday, 3rd May, to mark the 2022 World Press Freedom Day, had as its theme: Journalism Under Surveillance, held at the NUJ Press Centre in Uyo.
In his address, the Special Guest of Honour, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, said it was the duty of Journalists to continue to hold public office holders to account in order to move Nigeria forward.
Also speaking, Comrade Ini Ememobong described World Press Freedom Day as a day set aside to remind everyone that society owes journalists a duty of care.
“Journalists are people who take a lot of risks to expose the hills in the society, and they also help to enthrone democracy. Therefore, it is necessary to put ourselves in their shoes when they do their work”.
Similarly, the Chairman of NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Amos Etuk, explained that every World Press Freedom Day, usually afford journalists the opportunity to sit down together with other key stakeholders to reappraise their commitment toward maintaining a responsible press that would thrive not only within the state but also in the global space.
“We will continue to practice along the lines of our ethical set template and work together as partners for good governance, but above all, the media will continue to hold government accountable at all times, so that the conscience of the society would continue to be for the good of our country “. Etuk said.
Earlier, the Guest Lecturer, Dr Jones Ayuwo of the Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies, University of Port Harcourt, averred that journalists are political humans with inalienable rights to support a particular political course of their conviction but should do so responsibly and without derailing the wheels of governance or breaking the society.
” Press Freedom is the beauty of democracy, and without the Freedom of the Press, democracy is at risk “. He stressed.
While decrying the situation where several unpleasant attempts were made at gaging the Press, the University Don insisted that journalists must maintain courage and diligence even in the face of excruciating circumstances under which they operate in Nigeria, as there was no alternative to professionalism.
According to research, World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference. Since then, every 3rd May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day, and this year’s theme: ” Journalism Under Digital Seige “, was carefully selected to focus on the risks faced by journalists through surveillance and digitally mediated attacks.
