Media professionals in Nigeria have been advised to constantly hold government accountable and promote the 17 sustainable development goals by emphasizing the need for its implementation
A renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr Abiodun Owonikoko gave the advice while delivering a lecture organized by members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Ibadan Chapel, held at the Studio One, broadcasting house, Dugbe, Ibadan.
Speaking on the lecture entitled “Government And It’s Policies: Effects On The Masses” Mr Owonikoko lamented the prevailing poverty among masses in Nigeria attributing it to past bad leadership.
While charging the NUJ members to perform it’s watchdog roles by holding government accountable to it’s responsibilities, the legal luminary said media professionals in the country should bring the 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations to the front burner of government for implementation.
” The 17th goal talked about partnership for the goals. Partnership means that government it is not government alone. Part of your responsibilities as the fourth estate of the realm, you are to educate the people.”
Owonikoko who explained that 63 percent of Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor at different levels attributed the poverty crises in the country to unstable past policies of government.
The legal luminary who said Nigerians economy, infrastructure and institutions competed favourably with it’s counterparts in other developed countries of the world many years ago emphasized revisit to the nation’s constitution
“In 70s, there is pipe born water everywhere, not even borehole. You have public tap, you can fetch water for your house. The roads were motorable and safe while universities competed favourably with those in overseas, if not better.
“I’m sure about this, when we were going to the university in the early 70s, 80s, 90s, it is only those who could not make through the rigourou way of doing things in Nigeria university that travel abroad. We have foreigners schooling with us”.
Mr Owonikoko who said hopes for the nation’s socio economic and political restoration was not lost emphasized the need for political appointees of president Bola Tinubu to live up to the president’s expectation through effective service delivery.
“On the policy side they getting it right, it is at the implementation they are getting it wrong”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, FRCN Ibadan chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists Mr Oluwakayode Banjo noted that the lecture title was apt as it would broaden the knowledge horizon of Nigerians on the position of government and impact of it’s policies on the people.
“The topic of the lecture: “Government and it’s policies: Effects on the masses, we are the masses and successive government come and go they make different policies and projections and the effect is always on the common man, the masses. We want to know how these policies affect us as masses and what should the government look at before making these policies.”
Speaking in the same vein, the NUJ Chairman in Oyo state Mr Ademola Babalola said Nigerian masses are suffering saying government must consider their plight and be mindful of needless spending on overseas travels.
The Zonal Director FRCN, Ibadan Zonal Station, Dominick Mokikan said Nigerian journalist must truly serve as the link between the masses and the government ment through adequate information dissemination.
Mr Mokikan urged Nigerians to also have hope of better Nigerian and pray for their leaders.
“There is hope in Nigeria. That is our take home. For me, I say it wherever I go, to succeed as a leader you must know what you are doing. You must be in charge. Our leaders need our support. You may not have access to them but you can pray for them”
Some NUJ member too commended the lecturer for the incisive lecture describing it as an eye opener.
