The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku has on Saturday March 2, 2014 said that the Nigerian Government has created an atmosphere of freedom for the media to operate and will not suppress critical views. He said this at the 30th memorial of the late founder of the Punch Newspapers, James Aboderin which held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Minister stated that the Federal Government would continue to support the media, stressing that there is no reason for any news medium not to prosper.
“If you look at the writings, I believe the Nigerian press is one of the freest in the world today and that is the best the government can do not to suppress other views. The atmosphere is free, the market is free and we have even increased press freedom with the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act,” he said.
Maku also indicated that the Nigerian media is the best in Africa today because the government has created enabling environment for the media to prosper and because of the large market in Nigeria. He added that the economy is prospering and growing at seven per cent, while industry is increasing in several sectors – cement, telecom, agriculture and manufacturing. He inferred that as Nigeria continues to maintain appropriate macro-economic policies and grow its economy; the media industry will surely prosper.
He highlighted the qualities required for a newspaper to succeed, saying a good paper must define its market, constituency, specialization as well as being fair and trustworthy. Adding, the quality of editing and the news sense would add up to generating trust from the public for success. He also observed that partisanship and lack of professionalism destroy newspapers.
“All over the world, competition in the media is very tough. In most countries, papers do go down, but those who work hard survive. Once you cultivate that kind of paper just as Punch has been over a period of time, people will get used to your paper. The only time you may not prosper is when you become so partisan that people begin to lose confidence in you and when you take professionalism for granted and you don’t edit your paper well,” he pointed.
The Information Minister noted that using the wrong language, not obeying the canons and principles of journalism and failing to pay workers or to invest in manpower are other factors that could make a newspaper not to prosper. “When you invest in the best men and machines and you create a policy of consistency in quality, you will always succeed,” he averred.
The minister praised the hard work, vision, determination and commitment to excellence of the late founder of the Punch Newspaper, James Aboderin and urged journalists to emulate his virtues.
A former governor of Ogun State, Segun Osoba in his speech, described him as a great man, counseling journalists to emulate his being courageous, focused, dedicated, committed and working not just for material gain. “Your love for the profession must be undiluted,” he said.
The first son of the late James Aboderin, who is the Chairman of the Punch Newspaper, Wale Aboderin in his comments, held that his father was a detribalised man and was the ultimate leader that Nigeria should have had. He indicated that his father was aware that empowering the common man, no matter the capacity will trickle-down and the effect would be that those who do not have and have never been heard of would be able to grow.
He indicated that he was quick to empowering people and that there are not many people doing that anymore. “People are always looking for what they can get out of it before they help,” he insisted.
The former Chief Executive Officer of the Newswatch Magazine, Ray Ekpu, who spoke on the sidelines of the event, opined that the greatest legacy which the late James Aboderin left behind was ‘The Punch Newspaper’. “The vibrancy of The Punch, the professionalism of The Punch and its staying power is the greatest legacy and the greatest tribute that the management of The Punch can pay to that man. It is the success of such papers that encourage people to go into journalism,” he said.
In the highlight of the event, there were musical performances by Tunde and Wunmi Obe, Omawumi, Dr Sid and dancer Kaffy. There was also a documentary which featured the donations and activities of the children of the late James Aboderin in support of some primary schools in Lagos. James Aboderin was the founding chairman and publisher of ‘The Punch Group of Newspapers’ and died on February 28, 1984 at the age of 49 years.
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