sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9/sitemap.xsd BrandArena : Guardian Editor Decries Erosion Of Values in Media Practice

Friday 14 November 2014

Guardian Editor Decries Erosion Of Values in Media Practice

The Editor of a leading newspaper in Nigeria, The Guardian, Mr. Martins Oloja has decried the erosion of value in the media profession which he says is occasioned by wide scale corruption. Mr. Oloja made this claim at the just concluded BrandiQ Symposium which took place at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island Lagos. 
Mr. Martin Oloja
The Symposium was tagged ‘‘Politics, Business & 2015 General Elections: Driving Stakeholder’s Participation Through Deliberative Engagements.”

Oloja, who was one of the speakers at the event,  handled the topic; the Role of Media in Nigerian Politics where he lamented that corruption had eaten deep into the fabrics of the country, the media inclusive.  He pointed out that the loss of value in the profession has seen some media practitioners sacrifice truth for monetary gains and demand gratification in reporting or writing political stories. He noted that politics is about public service and thus must be accountable.

He also emphasised that every Journalist and PR practitioner should understand the complex Nigerian history of multicultural diversity. He went further to stress the use of analytics which he says is not only very vital to journalists but also to politicians who want to measure the impact of their projects. He stated that whatever gets measured gets attention, hence, the need for everyone to embrace the reality of deploying analytics and research in engaging our intellectual enterprise.

The symposium which was well attended by eminent scholars in the Nigerian academia, marketing communication experts, brand custodians and students, provided the needed platform to review Nigeria’s socio-political trajectory with the objective of inspiring confidence and loyalty among citizens.

Leading the band of erudite minds to excavate Nigeria’s rich human and material potentials was the Chairman of the occasion, Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Christopher Kolade. Others include; Guest Lecturer, Prof. Emevwo Biakolo, Dean, School of Media and Communications, Pan Atlantic University and the team of discussants that had quality analysts like the Editor-in-Chief of BusinessWorld, Mr Ray Echebiri; Dr. Josef Bel-Molokwu,  and Lagos ex-commissioner, Mr. Muiz Banire. They explored several contentious subject matters affecting the interests of the Nigerian dream. Apostle Hayford Alile was the Chief Host.
(L-R) Editor, The Guardian Newspaper, Mr. Martin Oloja, Guest Lecturer and Dean School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, Prof. Emevwo Biakolo, Editor-in-Chief BrandiQ Magazine, Mr. Desmond Ekeh, ChieF Host, Apostle Hayford Alile, Chairman, Dr. Christopher Kolade, Former Commissioner of Environment Lagos State, Dr. Muiz Banire and Deputy Editor-in-Chief BrandiQ Magazine at the BrandiQ 2014 Symposium in Lagos last week
In his opening address, the Chairman of the gathering, Dr. Christopher Kolade reminded the audience that democracy is a participative exercise and should treated as such. His words: “As stakeholders of this country, it is important that we should not leave the affairs of the country to the government. Everyone has a coefficient of productivity to give and your productivity is determined by your participation. The world, like Nigeria has gone through very testing moments in history; hence, we need to deliberate and fashion the way forward in our national history”.

Speaking at the symposium, the Editor-in-Chief, BrandiQ Magazine, Mr. Desmond Ekeh spoke on the BrandiQ Narrative as he crooned glowingly about the genesis of the publication that has received a resounding nod from marketing communication experts and Nigerians. Explaining further, he revealed that, beyond reporting issues and events in the Nigerian marketing industry, BrandiQ also engages Nigerians in issues affecting the nation’s survival and political aspirations.

Mr. Ekeh spoke further, “In an effort to nurture the future generation, the Magazine also targets students in Nigerian Universities via mentorship. The four key touch points of BrandiQ magazine are Workshops, Seminars, Leadership and Symposium. We try to interface with Nigerians on issues that are germane to our economic prosperity”.

Prof Biakolo who set the tone for the intellectual deliberation spoke about ‘the evolution of the nation. He also examined the Nigerian State and the political malaise bordering on participation. He apotheosized that the nation is not just a nation or state bound by political history or geographical space.

“Nigeria, as a plural society and multicultural existence does not approximate the idea of a state nation. There is a disruption of its unity and culture of statehood realities. The cultural persona is the embodiment of the socio-political value system of any given community. Hence, Nigeria’s plural and multicultural history is a major reason that can be deduced for the political apathy which has been prevalent and noticeable among Nigerians of all walks of life”.

No comments:

Post a Comment