Abuja: President Bola Tinubu has called on media practitioners to adhere to professionalism, accuracy, and responsibility in their reporting, emphasizing the media’s vital role in nation-building and democratic governance. He made these remarks during the inaugural State House Media Corps Presidential Dinner at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s dedication to press freedom and freedom of expression, as enshrined in the nation’s Constitution. He stated, “I am an apostle of a free press. I have defended and advocated for the rights of the media throughout my public life and will continue to do so.” However, Tinubu urged journalists to balance this freedom with responsibility, cautioning against misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and the emerging threat of AI-enabled deepfakes.
The president highlighted the symbiotic relationship between the government and the media, describing it as a partnership and a healthy democratic rivalry. “Government exists to serve the people through leadership and policy. The media exists to watch those entrusted with power, ask difficult questions and hold government accountable,” Tinubu noted, emphasizing the necessary tension that exists between these institutions for democracy to flourish.
He stressed the need for mutual respect and constructive engagement between the government and the media, advocating for professionalism over sensationalism in reporting. “Let us replace needless hostility with constructive engagement. Let us replace sensationalism with professionalism and the pursuit of outrage with the pursuit of truth,” he urged.
President Tinubu underscored the importance of professional journalism in the era of social media and instant information, urging the media to prioritize fact over falsehood and credibility over clickbait. He also addressed the legal framework protecting press freedom while ensuring the integrity of Nigeria’s information ecosystem, referencing the Cybercrimes Act as a safeguard, not a threat, to press freedom.
Highlighting his administration’s progress, Tinubu pointed out that economic reforms were showing positive results, with increased public revenues, renewed investor confidence, and improved key economic indicators. He also noted the multidimensional approach to tackling insecurity in the country, with enhanced military operations, better intelligence gathering, and stronger inter-agency collaboration.
The president expressed optimism that the State House media dinner would become a lasting platform to strengthen relations between the government and the media. At the event, the Chairman of the State House Press Corps, Anule Emmanuel, affirmed the Corps’ commitment to professional reporting of the president’s activities as he works to reform the nation. The event also featured the presentation of awards to distinguished individuals across various sectors and the decoration of Tinubu as the Grand Patron of the SHPC, attended by ministers, governors, diplomats, private sector leaders, and media stakeholders.