Industrialist counsels Media to adhere with professional Ethics
media practitioners have been advised to deliver their duties in line with the ethics of their profession in spite of the myriad of problems facing the country.
Chairman/Chief executive Officer (CEO) of Total Grace Group Dr. Henry Akinduro gave the task in Ibadan, after his investiture as the patron, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Oyo State chapter.
Akinduro noted that insecurity, COVID-19 pandemic and the internal challenges within the media industry were making it difficult for journalists to discharge their duties without compromising.
He said: “It is the responsibility of the leadership to protect the political, social, and economic interests of the citizens in the process of nation-building while journalism helps to remind those in authority of their obligations to the people, which include finding solutions to difficult problems, stabilising the polity and guiding the society to peace and prosperity.
The NUJ Chairman, Ademola Babalola, described Akinduro as a bridge-builder and distinguished Nigerian, saying he is an unrepentant philanthropist.
He said: “We have brought before you, a man so passionate about humanity; an unrepentant philanthropist, a workaholic, a trailblazer, a shining star, an honest, God-fearing, diligent, and wonderful personality and indeed a bridge builder and distinguished Nigerian.”
“What most of our political office holders forget is that it is the responsibility of journalists to shape national conversation by providing insights on critical issues as they affect their various audiences.
Majority of the people in government believe that the media serve only the interest of the opposition.
“It is said in several quarters that Nigerian journalists are unpatriotic just for doing their job. For instance, the challenge of insecurity in our country today manifests on several fronts: from the activities of kidnappers and armed robbers to the violent encounters between farmers and pastoralists in many theatres across the country to the perennial settler-indigene sectarian violence.
“To compound the situation, we now have the Boko Haram insurgency that threatens the corporate existence of our country.
“Given such a state of affairs, it is our duty as journalists to report the reality even while promoting only issues that will aid the resolution of many of the crises that are now tearing apart the fabrics of our society.
“But we can only do that effectively by reminding and challenging those in positions of authority of their onerous responsibilities to the people and many of our politicians do not always take kindly to that.”
