** As erudite scholars proffer solutions to Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges
By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has charged Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) to report the truth in holding government accountable.
This is even as erudite scholars Professors Ishaq Oloyede, Uchenna Uwaleke and Yakubu Ochefu have proferred solutions to Nigeria’s socio-economic problems which have increased in the face of the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Idris told online publishers to promote positive reports on Nigeria on social media, pointing out that it is crucial to the Socio-Economic growth and development of the country.
The minister stated this while addressing members of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) at her 7th Annual Conference with the theme: Roadmap for Socio-Economic Recovery and Sustainability, on Thursday at Continental Hotel Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Idris opined that one strategic component of the roadmap for Nigeria’s Socio-Economic Recovery and Sustainability should be the projection of the country in a good light, stressing that by so doing, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and other developmental plans of the country would be achieved.
Said he: “If you say you want foreign direct investment, you want Nigeria to grow, and you want every good thing that happens to all great countries in the world to happen in this country, you must be prepared to project your own country; nobody else will do it for us”.
The Minister therefore urged the GOCOP to carry out its responsibility with patriotism and professionalism, noting that the good things happening in the country far outweigh the bad things, and they should be projected.
Said he: “As Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, you have this great responsibility to ensure that you report only the truth and to help government officials to also tell the truth; it is your responsibility and you have to uphold it.”
Idris urged the Guild not to relent in its quest to sanitize and get rid of fake news carried by online media but to continue to sustain its peer review system and disciplinary measures against erring members.
He also reiterated the government’s commitment to return credibility to the business of government in the country while urging Nigerians to be optimistic with the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who he said is working assiduously to chart a roadmap for the socio-economic recovery and sustainability of the country.
The minister, however, asked Nigerians to learn to trust those who lead the, saying: “You have to trust the person you have elected, and that’s the only way you can hold him accountable when he goes overboard”. In conclusion Idris said: “Leave the cup half full and not half empty, always”.
In her welcome remarks, the President of GOCOP, Ms. Maureen Chigbo said the Guild will continue to ensure that it upholds professionalism which its members are known for, adding that not all online publishers are members of the guild due to its insistence on a mechanism to check and sanction erring members who do not play by the rules.
Said she: “We will continue to work towards making sure that our members are professionals because professionalism is our watchword.”
Also speaking at the event, three erudite scholars Professors Oloyede, Uwaleke and Ochefu have proffered solutions to Nigeria’s socio-economic problems which have increased in the face of the removal of fuel subsidy by Tinubu.
According to Oloyede who is the Registrar of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board JAMB Nigeria who was Chairman of the occasion said Nigeria is at a historic moment, pointing out that there must be a new road map for socio-economic recovery and sustainability of Nigeria.
He insists that there are fundamental steps to take in the face of the removal of fuel subsidy and floating of Naira which he said have inflicted huge economic burden on Nigerians.
Oloyede said a country with a vibrant media is better than a docile society but said the media should not deliberately undermine the country’s security.
The Keynote Speaker, Professor Uwaleke of Nasarawa State University, bemoaned the economic downturn of Nigeria and closure of multinational companies like Glasco SmithKlime (gsk).
The Professor of Capital Market however said government should create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive, adding that the country must prioritise agriculture, industry and service.
“Nigeria must have productive base. We must not be an import dependent nation. For Nigeria to recover she must develop agriculture and reduce import dependency. We must embrace agriculture, industry and service”, he stated.
For Professor Ochefu who is one of the panelists, the problem of Nigeria is Elites Consensus which he argued must be addressed if there must be development in the country.
He said Elite Consensus is lacking in Nigeria, pointing out that what obtains in Nigeria is the Consensus of the Ruling Class.
“What we have in Nigeria are Elites that import Gas and not Elites that want to build Power Plants”, he said.
He insists that Politics, Ego and Greed PEG are the problem of Nigerian elites. READ ALSO:
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In his speech, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, charged Nigerian journalists to corporate with the military to defeat insecurity in the country.
The Air Force boss who was represented by Air Cmdre. Edward Gabkwet, Director, Public Relations and Information, Nigeria Air Force, said his office is wide open for journalists to contact in order to report accurately.
Those who were in attendance at the event include Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman who was also a Discussant and representatives of Governor of Yobe state, Mai Malla Buni among others.
