From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday said the Media has a duty to hold the elected and appointed officials accountable and ensure that they do their work in a manner to strengthen democracy and not weaken it.He said in any thriving democracy, the roles of the government and the media are intertwined, both essential in serving the public interest.

Saying the alignment enables us to achieve common goals that benefit society at large. Tinubu who was represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation Hon. Mohammed Idris handed down this during the 20th All Nigeria Guild of Editors Conference at the Banquet Hall in Yenagoa the state capital.He said in the room are many veteran journalists who played very important roles in ushering in the age of enduring democracy in Nigeria. “I salute your individual and collective efforts not just at that time, but even right through to today, as we celebrate a quarter of a century of unbroken democratic experience”.This year’s theme which was titled:”Economic Growth and Development Strategies in a Resource-Rich Country” had in attendance media moguls across the federation.According to the president, “Indeed, our roles are most effective when they are not adversarial but cooperative.By viewing each other as allies in nation-building, we can create an environment where transparency, accountability, and mutual respect thrive. Together, the government and the media can empower citizens, strengthen democratic institutions, and build a more informed and resilient society”.”As editors and media managers, your role in national development cannot be overemphasized. You are the custodians of public perception, the gatekeepers of information, and, importantly, the voice of the people. You have the power to shape narratives that inspire, inform, and engage Nigerians positively and productively. We count on you to report truthfully and to engage constructively to help the public understand not only what this government is doing but also why we are doing it.With a united effort from government, citizens, and the media alike, we can build a resilient, diversified economy that offers security, opportunity, and hope for all Nigerians”.In his opening speech, the host governor senator Douye Diri said, the significance of the media in democratic governance has been recognised since the 17th century. Speaking as the fourth pillar of democracy, the press educates, informs, and entertains, shaping public agenda and debate. Democracy relies heavily on the press to thrive.According to Diri, as ethnic nationalities and diverse interests vie for attention, “your work serves as a beacon of hope, promoting understanding and unity. In these turbulent times around our nation and the world at large, your role as guardians of truth is more critical than ever”.He said integrity remains the cornerstone of the profession, building trust with the public and fortifying the foundations of a healthy democracy.“Economic Growth and Development Strategies in Resource-Rich Country,” your theme for this conference, is both relevant and timely. Therefore, we implore you as editors and influential voices, to advocate for policies that prioritise sustainable development and empower local communities.In his goodwill message, the former governor also of Ogun state, Chief Olusegun Osoba urged the NGE before they leave to set up a committee to look into the crisis brewing in the NUJ, “they are supposed to hold their annual conference but some people are saying that the president has overstayed his tenure and they took him to court. “You are the only united group after the NPAN to intervene in that crisis brewing in the NUJ”.

In his speech, the chairman of conference Chief Nduka Obaigbena said, the time is hard but Nigeria journalists are harder so they have to be tough to cope with the time.He said, Nigeria needs to be fixed first if we want to get it right, saying that it is the first thing to do and work hard to ensure that we also protect our Industries.”Are we going to protect Dangote refinery from cheap imports? If Dangote fails then we all have failed. If we are going to use whatever means to deal with the oil mafias, we should keep our refinery alive. If you say you want to stop monopoly then the four refineries must work””Let that four refineries be completed with Dangote so that they can compete. We challenge the Minister of information to get the refineries working. Everybody is feeling the pains in the country”.In his welcome address, the president of Nigeria Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba said, the biggest threat to media survivors today is availability of resource materials. Saying they are here because they recognize the critical role that both a strong economy and a resilient media sector play in fostering a prosperous, informed and democratic society.”Today, as editors, we stand at a crossroads where our decisions, priorities and strategies will shape the future of our country and journalism. The growth of our nation’s economy directly influences every sector, and our industry is no exception. A strong economy fuels consumer spending, drives innovation, and creates opportunities for media organizations to expand and thrive. Yet with opportunities come new challenges.”Media organizations face mounting pressure to adapt to modern trends while staying financially viable and maintaining journalistic integrity. Now, we thought the only challenge facing the media will be adapting to modern trends. But the biggest threat to media survivors today is availability of resource materials to produce our papers or to broadcast on our TV stations.”The growth of our nation’s economy directly influences every sector, and our industry is no exception. Today’s economic landscape demands that we be agile and innovative.”Many media houses are devising different ways to survive. However, as we exploit these strategies, we must keep sight of our mission to provide accurate, trustworthy and independent information to our audiences.”Sustainability is about more than economic survival. It’s about preserving the values and principles that make our profession a pillar of democracy. And there is a constitutional guarantee for that.Section 22 of our constitution challenges us to hold the government to account despite the poverty in our profession today because we are struggling to meet demand conditions.”The Constitution builds on us to hold the government to account. So at the same time, we must consider how we as editors can contribute to broader economic growth. We know that reliable media support informed citizens, foster accountability and encourage investments in democratic institutions.”An informed public is empowered to make decisions that spur economic growth, create jobs and promote sustainability, in this our work is essential not only to our audiences but also to our economic and social fabrics of our country.”