President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerian editors and media practitioners to uphold the highest standards of journalism by reporting boldly and truthfully, offering constructive criticism, and contributing to nation-building.
Speaking on Wednesday at the 21st Annual Conference of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (ANEC) 2025, held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, President Tinubu charged the media to remain steadfast in their role as the Fourth Estate of the Realm and a cornerstone of democracy. The conference had the theme: “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: Role of Editors.”
The President acknowledged the pivotal role of journalism in Nigeria’s democratic journey and assured the Guild that his administration would consider its requests for media tax relief, fiscal incentives, legal protection, and policy support to sustain a free and vibrant press.
“Journalism in Nigeria has always been more than a profession — it has been an instrument of national awakening,” Tinubu said. “Report boldly, but do so truthfully. Critique government policy, but do so with knowledge and fairness. Your aim must never be to tear down, but to help build a better society.”
President Tinubu cautioned against the spread of misinformation in the digital age, stressing that “verification must be your anchor; balance must be your principle, and professional judgment must be your guide.”
While acknowledging Nigeria’s current security and economic challenges, he expressed optimism that the country would return to peace and prosperity under his administration. “Let us choose clarity over confusion, responsibility over recklessness, and hope over despair,” he urged.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, commended the President’s historic attendance — the first by a sitting Nigerian leader — and highlighted the administration’s commitment to press freedom, noting that over 1,000 broadcasting stations operate freely across the country.
“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, no media house has been threatened, gagged, or shut down for expressing dissent,” Idris said.
Also speaking, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, called on editors to take responsibility for protecting electoral integrity and public trust ahead of the 2027 general elections. He warned that sensational and misleading reporting could deepen national divisions and erode confidence in democratic institutions.
“Every editorial decision carries consequences. When every disagreement is framed as a crisis, it feeds polarisation and undermines democracy,” Uzodimma cautioned.
The President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba, thanked President Tinubu for attending the conference, describing it as a demonstration of his administration’s respect for the media as a strategic partner in governance.
Anaba appealed to the Federal Government to introduce corporate tax relief, VAT exemption on media inputs, and a Media Development Fund to support digital transformation and newsroom innovation, while also repealing laws that restrict press freedom.
“Editors must defend the sanctity of truth, insist on transparency, and hold power to account — not as adversaries of government, but as constructive partners in the pursuit of national progress,” he said.
The conference brought together top editors, policymakers, and media stakeholders to discuss the role of journalism in strengthening democracy, fostering cohesion, and shaping Nigeria’s democratic future.
