Well-informed media, asset to nation building – Juwah

DigitalSENSE Business News:

The Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah has declared that a well-informed media is an asset to nation building, reports DigitalSENSE Business News.

Speaking at a two-day capacity building workshop for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Journalists in Lagos, at the weekend, Dr. Juwah, who was represented by the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, disclosed that the Commission believes in a well-informed media as an asset to nation building, hence, the workshop, noting that media’s major task is creating awareness about products, services, issues, challenges, benefits, processes, and usage potentials, more so, when these are simplified to the benefit of all.

The Commission, he revealed to DigitalSENSE Business News, has identified the media as one of the first five in its line-up of major stakeholders in the telecommunications industry, because the media provides the bridge through which the Commission reaches its various audiences and targets.

“We are also aware that our industry is not only technical, but is also sophisticated and dynamic with developments and innovations becoming a recurring decimal. This is why it is imperative that the men of the pen who are responsible for simplifying these situations to the general public are also informed and equipped intellectually and professionally to educate the public,” he asserted.

Equally, he told DigitalSENSE Business News, NCC observed most that journalists covering the telecommunications industry basically report news and developments, thus lacking in the lots of informed analysis designed to create a deeper understanding of issues among the stakeholders.

“Sometimes when issues arise in the industry, what we see in the media are comments or opinions by individuals and public commentators who are not well informed about the industry,” he said, pointing out to DigitalSENSE Business News that such dominance of the media space by uninformed commentators gives us cause for concern, that perhaps, those responsible for day-to-day coverage of the industry may not be professionally equipped to embark on such level of engagement to separate facts from fictions.

He emphasised that “facts are sacred, and opinions are free,” but when those who should have the facts are silent, and allow those without facts to dominate the discourse, it faults the foundation of this maxim. 

According to him, it’s for this reason that NCC had invited professionals covering this industry to look beyond reporting the news and engage in critical and factual analysis of developments for the benefit of the stakeholders and the general public.

“Perhaps, this type of workshop would assist in bridging whatever gap may have existed to create this vacuum. This is why we have carefully assembled resource persons who are very knowledgeable in the various technical areas of the industry for the purpose of this workshop,” he said.

Remmy Nweke

... Making SENSE of digital revolution!
Pix: Prof Raymond Akwule, Tony Ojobo, Dr. Pius Onobhayedo - some speakers at the workshop.