As the nation’s handlers make frantic efforts to reposition the country for greatness, journalists will do well to promote the tenets of developmental journalism in.order to be seen to be playing well their expected roles in nation building.
A Deputy Director of the Nigeria Television Authourity (NTA), Dr. Demolu Okuneye who is the guest lecturer at the Diji Akinhanmi 4th memorial lecture,held at the Press Centre, Iwe Irohin House, Oke-Ilewo,Abeokuta stated this on Tuesday.
Dr Okuneye who spoke on the topic,”The Role of Journalism In Promoting National Image and Development” at the event put together by the management of the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, (OGBC) in honour of their late General Manager, Mr Diji Akinhanmi said as much as journalists are permitted to play their role in holding the government accountable to the people, they should also be mindful of the fact that they are expected to play critical roles in national development, hence the need to embrace the tenets of developmental journalism.
According to him, the Nigerian Journalists should be mindful of the fact that their reportage is one of the means people outside the country use in forming an impression about the image of the country, hence they must be ready to play a partnership role in national development.
He said:”When there is the need to commend, journalists should commend, when there is the need to criticise, journalists should also do so. As journalists, we must be mindful of the fact that one of the ways people can understand what the country is like is through the prism of our reportage. Journalists should therefore avoid sensationalism and fake news in reportage. Let’s take Nigeria first in all that we do,”
The Special guest of honour, who is the Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Media, Honourable Kayode Akinmade represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications, Mr ‘Dare Odufowokan observed that as journalists, nation building should be one of the core values.
Odufowokan said:”We should see our assignments as a call to build.Thus, in all our dealings, the call to build should be our guiding principle”.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alhaji Waheed Adesina who is a special guest in a remark described the late Diji Akinhanmi as a good manager of human and material resources who worked hard and played hard and a giant with infectious smile, yet firm.
Also speaking, the former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Ogun State and the Chief Executive Officer Rock City FM, Dr. Niran Malaolu observed that journalism is a noble profession, but urged the practitioners to.embrace professionalism by shunning brown envelope Syndrome and any act that is capable of degrading the profession.
Dr. Malaolu who recalled the story of his incarceration as a journalist, detested the practice of victimization of Journalists in Nigeria, while also speaking against poor remuneration for journalists..
The Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Engineer Tokunbo Odebunmi who doubles as the Chairman of the occasion while declaring the event open described late Diji Akinhanmi as a professional journalists to the core who was very bold, articulate and respectful,saying Journalism is a profession,but professionalism in Journalism is a matter of choice, emphasising that the late Diji Akinhanmi was a thoroughbred professional.
He thereafter proceeded to announce an award of excellence in Journalism in honour of late Diji Akinhanmi which is to begin by next year, during the 5th memorial lecture, while adding that a number of corporate organisations have indicated interest to be part of the award.
The Royal Father of the day, Towulade of Akinale , Oba Olufemi Ogunleye described Diji Akinhanmi as someone who has helped to raised the standard of Journalism and management while alive, urging the up and comng professionals to emulate the late Diji Akinhanmi and strive to retrain themselves in order to retain the value of the profession.
The General Manager, Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, Mrs Toyin Sogbesan in her remarks while thanking the guests and other dignitaries present at the occasion informed that the management led by her had been able to carry on some of the legacies of the late Diji Akinhanmi especially in staff welfare, through the resuscitation of car loan to workers, staff monthly award, award of best marketers of the month among others.
The General Manager while appreciating the Governor of the state, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON for the support given to the station informed that the Governor of Ogun State has graciously given the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation a brand new transmitter, which comes with a back- up generator by an Italian company, assuring that her management will continue to carry on and follow the ideals of the late General Manager.
The former Chief Medical Director of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Dr Akinwale Akinhanmi who is the head of the Akinhanmi’s family said the late Diji had implicit interest in journalism and was a man who developed himself and read widely, urging the younger ones to emulate him, while thanking the management of the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation for sustaining the legacy in the last four years.
The event witnessed other side attractions including Ewi rendition by a former Director of Programmes Services in the Corporation, Mr Bunmi Ayelagbe.
Other dignitaries that graced the occasion included the Publisher, Prestige Newspaper, Mr. Dada Olanipekun, Publisher, Penpushing Media, Mr. Dimeji Kayode- Adedeji, Former General Manager, Ogun State Television who is also the Chairman,Society of Nigerian Broadcasters, (SNB), Bashorun. Festus Kehinde, friends of Diji Akinhanmi as well as wife of the deceased, Dr. Jumoke Akinhanmi among others.
