The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has been urged to foster national consciousness and prevent the prevalence of fake news through its editorial oversight.
These were part of the advice offered during the 3rd Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial lecture held yesterday in Lagos.
Speaking on the theme: "Journalism and the challenges of nation building in a multi-ethnic society", the governor of Bauchi, Senator Bala Mohammed described the country as multi-ethnic society, emphasizing on the need for the media to use their profession to foster unity.
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"Journalism is not just about reporting events. It is about shaping the nation's soul. "In a multi-ethnic society like ours, where language, religion, and geography too often define identity, the media must help create national consciousness -- a consciousness that values justice, merit, and shared destiny," he said.
The governor, who was represented by his chief of staff, Dr. Aminu Gamawa acknowledged the role of journalism during the colonial and military era, attributing the freedom the country gained from those era to the role of media.
He, however, stressed that the lack of editorial oversight in the digital age has opened the floodgates of information and misinformation.
"Today, the threats are different but no less insidious. The digital age has opened the floodgates of information and misinformation. Social media has democratized speech but also diluted truth.
"Artificial intelligence now creates headlines, but who checks the heart behind them," he said.
He added that financial influence has scuttled editorial independence, leaving readers at the mercy of such influence.
"There is the corrosive influence of big money. Politicians, corporations, and special interests now compete to own narratives, not just policies. Editorial independence is constantly under siege, and the temptation to trade truth for access is greater than ever," he said.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris Malagi also underscored the role of journalism in the progress of the country, describing the profession as the bedrock for nation building.
The minister whose speech was delivered by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, raised the alarm over the spread of fake news on social media, describing it as a recipe for destruction.
"We cannot have a country without journalism or the press and, most importantly, the free press. The two are connected.
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"The government needs to hear and the people need to be heard, so we have journalists play the role of mediator, the medium connecting the government and the people but unfortunately what we have today is that our industry is being challenged.
"Recently, there was a story in the paper about Babaginda's son rejecting a government appointment with a letter written by the young man. That is the kind of thing we have. Many of us retweeted or reprinted that line, and there are rules.
"Don't always retweet what you find on social media. Most often, they are not correct. We, as journalists, need to enforce the rules that govern our profession, and if you get any piece of information, always check if it is correct.
"You need to verify your information. If you keep writing fake news all over the place, one day with our pen, we will set our country on fire because fake news travels, and before you can track it down," he said.
He urged NGE to rise up to the challenges confronting the profession.
"I think our Guild of Editors has many roles to play to ensure that people who practice journalism keep to the rules," he said.
Mr. Femi Adesina, a former Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to late president Muhammad Buhari, described the media as part of activism, echoing the need for the professionals to live up to their responsibilities.
Earlier, the President, NGE, Eze Anaba, said the lecture was organised to provide insights on the role of journalism to contribute meaningfully to building an inclusive and cohesive society.
