BY TOSIN ADERIBIGBE
Journalists need to continue to abide by the ethics of the profession to further entrench the nation’s democracy.
This was the opinion of some stakeholders in Akure, Ondo state at a one day capacity building workshop for journalists in the Southwest on “conflicts sensitive reporting and 2023 general election”.
The one day capacity building was organised by the Nigeria union of Journalists in conjunction with the Independent National Electoral Commission to sensitize the professionals on proactive ways to diligently discharge their duties ahead of the 2023 general election.
Also speaking, the NUJ National President, Chief Chris Isiguzor, represented by the General Manager Radio Nigeria, Bronze fm Benin city, Mrs Abimbola Oyetunde said many journalist had lost their lives and gadgets in the course of discharging their duties during elections hence the need for then to always consider their safety first while on duty.
The Vice President, NUJ B zone, Princess Aderonke Samo described journalists as the most endangered personnel during elections urging them not to be discouraged but be upright always.
Earlier In a welcome address, the NUJ chairman Prince Leke Adegbite encouraged members of the fourth estate of the realm to be security conscious before and during the 2023 general election.
In a remark, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Ambassador Rufus Akeju encouraged the Journalists across the southwest to guard against fake news and ensure they report nothing but the truth in line with the ethics of the profession.
Ambassador Akeju said processes towards the hitch free polls including training and retraining of personnel was on-going across the state.
Corroborating the Commissioner, the national commissioner in charge of voter education and publicity, Mr Festus Okoye advised journalists to shun sensationalism and other acts that could mar the electoral process.
Represented by Mr Oyetola Oyelami, Mr Okoye observed that elections had different jurisdiction and conflicting interests hence the need for the media to always seek clarification from electoral officials for balanced reportage.
Some of the participants including Olorunferanmi Odofin of Radio Nigeria and Sunday Ajibola of the state’s ministry of information described the capacity building programme as timely in view of the need to have a hitch free election.