Veteran Broadcasters to set up Broadcast University in Nigeria
As a way to addressing the growing rot in the practice of broadcasting journalism , the First Television Training Centre has concluded arrangement to establish Broadcast University , the first in the country.
One of the Board of Trustees members , Chief Adebisi Adesola , a veteran broadcaster dropped the hints on Thursday at a seminar on Broadcast Media and National Security held at the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
The seminar which was attended by Chief Dele Momodu, Ambassador Yemi Farounbi, and other renowned broadcasters was to enlighten professionals in the industry on the connection between national security and the role of the broadcast media.
The new university ,according to Chief Adesola , a former Secretary to the Oyo state Government (SSG) will raise the bar of the ethical standard of broadcast journalism in the country in view of the growing rot in the industry.
Major General Chris Olukolade retired , a former Director of Defense Information, Nigeria Army,
who was the Chairman of the occasion in his opening remarks , said a society that separates its warriors and scholars, will have its wars fight by cowards, and its thinking by fools.
He noted that the meeting will improve interaction , and promote finest ideals in the society , while stressing the needs for accuracy and professionalism to safe guard national security.
A Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ibadan, Prof. Olawale Albert in his paper titled : ‘Broadcasting and National Security’ urged Nigerians to collaborate in tackling the nation national security challenges.
He lamented that the divergence between how media and the Nigerian state in handling the national security is not encouraging.
He stated that convergence of varying interests become necessary as the nation is currently facing high level of insecurity across the nation.
According to him, national security has been misinterpreted as a regime security, but government should have a true understanding of what national security entails which is mainly protection of it’s citizenry.
He added that the Media also needs to play its own role by holding the state accountable for protection of lives and property.
The don , however, said that there is a need for those who is managing the state to be sincere to national security, and politician should be committed to the tenent of democracy, adding that Nigerian military should also be better train in strategic communication.
The Managing Director, Guardian Newspaper, Dr. Martins Oloja said that broadcasting media is currently suffering in the hands of handlers of Nigerian state
, stating that freedom of expression is not only for journalists, but for all the people.
He maintained that good journalism will produced good government, and failure of the government to provide food and social amenities was responsible for the current threat to national security.