By Our Reporter
The 20th edition of the All Nigeria Editors’ Conference (ANEC) has kicked off in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital,with 350 Editors and Media Executives participating.
Themed:”Economic Growth and Development Strategies in Resource-Rich Country,” the three-day conference is featuring among other things, discussions and paper presentations on some critical issues affecting the country, including economy and security.
Declaring the conference open, President Bola Tinubu urged the Nigerian Media to sustain their professional and democratic principles in the discharge of their duties.
Represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi,Tinubu saluted the standing legacy of the Nigerian Media of their deep commitment and contributions to the nation’s development.
“The democracy we are enjoying today would not have been possible without the media,” he said.
In a thriving democracy, the President noted,the role of Government and the media is a collective one aimed at serving the public interest.
“We are doing our work in a manner that strengthens democracy.The important work must be done with mutual respect and collaboration in order to achieve common goal that will benefit the society,” he said.
The President said government and the media should work together for the advancement of democracy where transparency and accountability thrive.
In his address,President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr Eze Anaba, lamented that unavailability of resource materials is one of the biggest threats to the media industry.
“We are here because we recognize the critical role that both a strong economy and a resilient media sector play in fostering a prosperous, informed and democratic society.
“Today, as editors, we stand at a crossroads where our decisions, priorities, and strategies will shape the future of our country and journalism.
“The growth of our nation’s economy directly influences every sector, and our industry is no exception. A strong economy fuels consumer spending, drives innovation, and creates opportunities for media organizations to expand and thrive. Yet, with these opportunities come new challenges.
“Media organizations face mounting pressure to adapt to modern trends while staying financially viable and maintaining journalistic integrity. The biggest threat to media survival today is the unavailability of resource materials to produce our papers or broadcast on our TV stations,” Anaba added.
In his speech,Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State commended the media for their role in deepening democracy in Nigeria.
Governor Diri used the occasion to showcase his administration’s achievements and to address the environmental challenges facing the state, urging the media to project them in their reportage.
He said the Government and people of Bayelsa State are happy and proud to host the 20th edition of the NGE conference and wished the participants fruitful discussions and a happy stay in the state.