(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Labaran_Maku-300x192.jpg) Information Minister, Labaran Maku has pledged the readiness of the Federal Ministry of Information to partner with the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) to promote press freedom and good governance in the country in particular and Africa in general.
He gave the pledge in his letters of congratulations on the election of Mohammed Garba as the President of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) and Femi Adesina as the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.
Labaran Maku noted that the election of Mohammed Garba came at a time when Africa is beset by numerous challenges and urged him to use his new position to mobilise the whole continent to promote good governance, free press, democracy and credible elections, in order to advance development on the continent.
The Information Minister called on the FAJ President to lead the campaign towards improving on the image of Africa, to enhance the dignity and prestige of Africans in addition to using the media to defend the continent against historical and contemporary injustices and stereotypes, which he said has continued to frustrate the continent's march to progress
He expressed belief that having successfully led the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the West African Journalists Association (WAJA) to greater heights, Mohammed Garba would bring to bear his vast experience and exposure to running what he described as important continental organisation. Maku charged him to strive towards enforcement of ethics and standards in the journalism profession to further boost the credibility of the media in Africa.
In his letter to Mohammed Garba, he demanded for high standards of professionalism, saying this will earn public confidence and guard against politicisation of the media in Africa. "You should aim at setting up a mechanism for self-regulation to enable the media discharge its mandate as the veritable platform for agenda setting for the achievement of good governance and development", he emphasized.
The Minister urged the new President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Femi Adesina to presurise members of the guild against the challenges of insecurity and the promotion of national cohesion, in order to strengthen the bond of unity and corporate existence of the nation.
He reminded the NGE President that to achieve national development, the media ought to play a leading role in promoting good governance at all levels as well as strengthen their role in agenda setting.
"Let me therefore urge you to canvass for the setting up of a professionally-driven ombudsman to regulate the activities of the media and guard against political interference and infiltration by quacks", the Minister indicated in his letter to him.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria