Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday urged
the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) to continue to ensure fair and objective
reportage of national issues that would promote socio-economic development and
national cohesion.
The Governor who spoke at the commissioning of Editors
House, located at 24 Mojidi Street, Ikeja, said the NGE just like other
professional and trade union bodies hold strategic stakes in the healthy
development of the nation.
To this end, Governor Ambode tasked the Guild to ensure that
more attention is devoted to issues that would assist government to ease the
current hardship being experienced by the people and protection of lives and
property.
“It is no longer news that out nation’s economy is in
recession amidst other challenges that demand the patriotism and nationalistic
spirit of all of us. Specifically for members of the Guild, as gatekeepers and
moulders of opinion in our nation, you owe it as a national duty to ensure fair
and objective reportage of issues with eyes on the promotion of socio-economic
development and national cohesion.
“The practice of journalism and mass communication in this
present time should be anchored on the best global journalistic ethos and must
be moderated by local realities and national interest,” Governor Ambode said.
The Governor, who was represented at the event by his
Deputy, Dr. Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, however assured that his administration
would continue to partner with the Guild in line with its determination to make
positive difference in the lives of all Lagosians.
“We would appreciate your continued reportage of our
activities accurately and objectively for the education, enlightenment and
mobilization of support of our people especially as they relate to our policies
and programmes in the years ahead,” he said.
Describing the Editors House as a new chapter that would
ultimately earn the Guild respect and due recognition in the comity of
professional bodies in the nation, Governor Ambode urged members to make good
use of the facility to protect and promote national unity.
Earlier, President of the NGE, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, in her
welcome address paid tribute to the founding fathers and past presidents of the
Guild who contributed largely to the realization of the project, saying that a
dream of 55 years had become a reality.
She also thanked the Federal Government, State Governments
and other institutions that contributed immensely to see the project to
reality, saying that the House would serve as not only a secretariat for the
Guild, but a rallying point for its members.
Dignitaries present at the event include, former Governor of
Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter
Obi, former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Deputy Governor of
Adamawa, Mr. Martins Babale, Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),
Mr. Bayo Onanuga who represented the Minister of Information, Culture and
Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Special Adviser to the President on Media and
Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, representatives of Governors of Delta, Osun and
Akwa Ibom, distinguished editors and chief executives of various media
organisations, among others.
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