Journalists have once again been called upon to always display professionalism in the write ups and to always cross-check and balance their facts before disseminating to the public.
Kogi State Deputy Governor, Yomi Awoniyi, stated this at the Fifteen Year Anniversary and award celebration held by Kogi Affairs,a Community base Newspaper in the State.
The Deputy Governor, who was Represented by Prince Richard Akanmode, Deputy Chief of Staff, office of the Deputy Governor, described the media as a veritable tool in nation building.
The Deputy Governor disclosed that while the government requires the media to inform the people about its activities, called on journalists to always be objective and to see their professional assignment as sacred and not to be used for witch hunt those in positions of authority and to also feed the innocent public with falsehood.
Awoniyi commended the Publisher of Kogi Affairs Newspaper, Chief Kola Toluhi for his consistency and steadfastness, urged the paper to sustain its sense of objectivity and not to remain partisan.
Also, speaking, the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Hassan Salau, who was the Chairman at the occasion, commended the unbiased and non-partisan report of Kogi Affairs Newspaper.
Alhaji Salawu, called on practicing journalists in the country to embrace the practice of development journalism,so as to help in the sustenance of the nation’s democracy.
In a goodwill message, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Yabagi Bologi, said the present administration in the State has given the media a pride of place, appealed to journalists to be objective while discharging their profession.
Alhaji Yabagi, disclosed that the present administration in the State has contributed to the activities of the media through repositioning of the State owned Newspaper and the State Broadcasting Corporation by making its financially autonomous and self sustaining.
The Commissioner added that efforts to reposition the State Printing Press and establish a State owned television is nearing completion, assured of State Government’s support to community based Newspapers operating in the State.
Highlights of the anniversary was a paper presentation by Chief J. O. Yusuf, on the role of the media in 2015 election.
The guest lecturer called on journalist in the country to be cautious in their handling of events leading to, during and after the 2015 elections.
While noting that politicians are already heating the polity with their inflammatory remarks, journalist, Chief Yusuf explained have a role to report only issues that will unite and strengthen the nation’s unity in 2015.
The occasion witnessed the anniversary cake cutting by the publisher Chief Kola Toluhi while some persons who had distinguishes themselves in politics, administration and Civil Service were honoured by the Newspaper.
In his remarks at the occasion, Chief Kola Toluhi, publisher of Kogi Affairs, said the Fifteen Year Anniversary, was organized to take stock of how far the Newspaper has fared, to appreciate its reading public and honour some persons who have distinguishes themselves in their fields of endeavours.
