A University Don, Prof. Umaru Pate says Nigeria operates a democratic system of government, but the behaviour of the politicians is undemocratic.

 

Also, no development can be achieved as the nation faces the challenge of transparent and accountable governance resulting in extreme poverty in the land.

 

Prof. Pate of the Bayero University Kano, stated this while presenting a paper, titled “Media and Accountable Governance in Nigeria”, at the 3rd Africa Conference on Development Journalism (#ACDJ2019), organized in Kaduna by the Africa Media Development Foundation.

 

The Don therefore tasks Journalists to mobilize public opinion against impunity, corruption and misbehaviour in governance in the country.

 

The Don expressed worry that every year, 5 million new entrants go to labour market, a situation, he said, was compounded by poor access to energy and social infrastructure.

 

Prof. Pate then suggested a journalism that is editorially free, patient, courageous and economically healthy to properly play its role as watch dog of the society.

 

While reminding the participants of the power in unity, the Don advised Media platforms in the country to collaborate to face government’s ‘mainstream’.

 

In a paper titled “Setting Agenda in Under Reported Stories, “a Professor of Mass Communication from Samuel Adegboyegba University, Ogwa Benin, Ezekiel Asemah urged journalists to pay attention to stories that would engender development, or things that make lives positively for the citizens.

 

Sustainable development, he explained, takes care of the present and future well-being of the people, hence the need for Journalists to educate them on the consequences of climate change, human trafficking, child’s rights, human rights, Population control and drug abuse.

 

Prof. Esemah also challenged Journalists to encourage girl child education and poverty reduction, where people could be self-employed and not job seekers.