Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has identified economic vulnerability proprietorial interference and censorship as major threats to media independence warning that failure to address them could undermine journalism’s credibility and Nigeria’s democratic development.
Uzodimma said the media had played a significant role in deepening democracy and accelerating national development since the return to democratic governance in 1999 but stressed that journalists must be protected from pressures capable of compromising their professional responsibilities.
The governor spoke in Abuja at the weekend while delivering the third Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi Annual Diamond Lecture with the theme ‘Media Democratic Consolidation and Development’.
He said the expansion of media platforms had created greater opportunities for public engagement and democratic participation but had also increased the demand for professionalism financial independence and credible journalism.
According to him the challenges confronting Nigerian journalists must be addressed to enable the media to discharge its constitutional responsibility of strengthening democracy and driving development.
He identified economic insecurity among media practitioners interference by media owners safety concerns and harsh working conditions as obstacles to effective journalism.
Uzodimma who chairs the Progressive Governors’ Forum called for a collaborative framework involving the government media practitioners and citizens to strengthen the media’s capacity to promote democratic accountability and national development.
He said the media’s contribution to democracy could be sustained only if journalists were able to operate freely uphold professional standards and retain public confidence.
The governor also paid tribute to the late Raymond Dokpesi describing the media entrepreneur as a pioneer whose investments in private broadcasting helped expand Nigeria’s democratic space.
He recalled that before Dokpesi established Ray Power FM and African Independent Television (AIT) broadcasting was largely dominated by government-owned organisations.
He said the establishment of the two media organisations widened access to independent broadcasting and contributed to economic growth through job creation advertising opportunities infrastructure development and the promotion of Nigerian culture internationally.
Uzodimma argued that Dokpesi’s contribution to broadcasting went beyond entrepreneurship noting that his investments helped broaden the space for independent voices and public discourse in the country.
He described the annual lecture as an important initiative for preserving the media mogul’s legacy but urged stakeholders to take further steps to immortalise his contributions to Nigeria’s media industry.
‘The best tribute we can pay to his memory is to protect that media freedom and ensure that the journalism practised under it remains worthy of public trust’ he said.
The governor also proposed the establishment of a national media centre in Dokpesi’s honour saying such an institution would serve as a lasting recognition of his contributions to broadcasting and democratic development.
He maintained that protecting media freedom and strengthening public trust were essential to consolidating Nigeria’s democracy. He urged stakeholders to ensure that the challenges confronting journalists did not diminish the media’s role in holding power accountable.