| LAGOS – Two speakers at the World Press Freedom Day, 2014, Prof. Lai Oso and Dr Williams Olatunji, have called for the establishment of community-funded radio stations and newspapers in the country.
Oso and Olatunji, both of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, made the call in their papers on Tuesday at a one-day seminar organised by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), in Lagos.
The theme of the seminar was “ Media Freedom, Peace and Development in Nigeria’’.
Oso, Dean of the LASU School of Mass Communication, said the establishment of community-funded radio stations and newspapers would give such communities opportunities for self-expression.
“Nigeria is without viable community radio stations and newspapers. We need to appeal to the Federal Government to grant operating licences to communities to establish their own radio stations and newspapers.
“This will encourage them to participate fully in issues affecting them,’’ Oso said.
He added that it would also provide them the medium to counter views they were opposed to.
The don said that the present-day radio stations and newspapers in the country were owned by governments and the wealthy, adding that this should not be so as it would discourage the full manifestation of the democratic process.
Dr Williams Olatunji, an associate professor of Mass Communication, LASU, said that only university campuses were given licences to operate community radio stations by the Federal Government.
According to him, this negated the real concept of community radio which, he said should be for real communities.
Olatunji urged community associations to show interest in the establishment of community radio stations through which they could advance their causes.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba, commended Nigerian journalists for their contributions to national development since the pre-colonial era.
Ibirogba, Guest of Honour at the event, who was represented by Mrs Toro Oladapo, the Asst. Director of Strategy in the Ministry, charged journalists to brace up for the 2015 general elections.
He said that they should educate the public on the importance of voting during elections through their write-ups.
Ibirogba also tasked journalists to write on the progress and challenges facing the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the country at the Federal, State and local government levels.
“We should report how Nigeria has fared in meeting the global standards of the MDGs at the local government, state and national levels between the Year 2000 and now,’’ he said.
In a message, the UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki Moon, said that the successful implementation of the MDGs would help Nigerians to enjoy their fundamental right to freedom of opinion and expression.
“These rights are essential to democracy, transparency, accountability and the rule of law. They are vital for human dignity, social progress and inclusive development,’’ the UN scribe said.
Various papers were presented by experts on media-related topics at the seminar which was attended by media executives, journalists and other stakeholders.(NAN) |
