Promote national unity, integrity, Tinubu tells Editors

As Uzodimma, Idris charge media on responsibility ahead of 2027 elections

By Mathew Brangyet

President Bola Tinubu has tasked the Nigerian editors to use the power of the media to enhance national unity, uphold integrity, and project a positive image of the country, describing the press as a vital partner in his administration’s efforts toward national renewal and democratic consolidation.

The President said this while declaring open the 21st Annual Conference of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (ANEC 2025) at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

Tinubu, who would be the first Nigerian President to declare any Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) open, urged editors to be conscious of their critical responsibility in nation-building, noting that the stories they tell shape how the world perceives Nigeria, and how Nigerians perceive themselves.

The conference, themed “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors,” brought together more than 400 senior journalists and communication professionals from across the country.

“It is our country. What should be worrisome to you is the image of the country we project to the outside world. Your institutions must help build a nation of credibility and integrity. Poverty will not define us — we shall overcome it. We are doing something about terrorism and banditry, inspiring our armed forces and encouraging them to defend the sovereignty of this country”, the President said.

He maintained that the administration’s economic reforms, including subsidy removal, currency unification, and upcoming fiscal measures, are part of a deliberate strategy to restore confidence in the Nigerian economy and improve citizens’ welfare.

“On the economy, we know there is more work to do, and we remain focused on ensuring that growth translates into real improvement in the daily lives of all Nigerians. However, economic reforms and institutional improvement alone cannot give us the nation-building we require. Nation-building requires cooperation, truth, and a shared understanding that our future is tied together”, he said.

The President said he had noted the Guild’s requests for tax reliefs and fiscal incentives to sustain the media industry and assured that his administration would consider appropriate policy adjustments.

“I’ve listened to the concerns of the Guild regarding corporate tax review, VAT extensions, media tax breaks, and affordable loans through the Bank of Industry. We will discuss these as part of our broader reforms to support media digitisation and press freedom”, the President noted.

Tinubu urged editors to lead by example in professionalism and ethics, saying, “Let us choose clarity over confusion, responsibility over recklessness, and hope over despair. The stories we tell ourselves as a nation influence the country we become.”

He wished the participants a “constructive, thoughtful, and fruitful deliberation,” reaffirming his administration’s commitment to strengthening press freedom, democratic accountability, and national cohesion.

Also, delivering the keynote address, Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, warned that the editorial choices made by Nigerian media will play a decisive role in determining the credibility of the 2027 general elections.

The governor who spoke on the topic “2027: Editors as Catalysts of Democracy, National Cohesion, and Electoral Integrity,” Uzodimma argued that “electoral integrity begins with editorial integrity,” urging editors to exercise accuracy over speed, verification over virality, and context over clickbait.

“You wield moral power that cannot be outsourced to INEC or the security agencies. Your reports and comments paint a picture of tomorrow. The picture you paint of 2027 is what Nigerians will expect”, he said.

The governor cautioned against sensationalism and divisive coverage, noting that “division sells and outrage travels faster than nuance,” but stressed that national interest must be the media’s “editorial north star.”

“When newsrooms allow misinformation, rumour, and tribalism to masquerade as journalism, electoral integrity is already compromised. In 2027, will your editorial practice contribute to a credible election or to the perception of a flawed one?,” Uzodimma wondered.

The governor also linked responsible journalism to market confidence, arguing that when editors amplify the gains of economic reform truthfully, they help attract investment and build national stability.

“Investors oversubscribe Nigerian bonds not out of sentiment but because they see stability and coherence. When you highlight facts that show reforms are working, you are contributing to nation-building, not propaganda”, he said.

The Imo State governor commended President Tinubu’s presence at the conference as a “huge statement of priority,” adding that the administration has strengthened communication channels, from the National Orientation Agency to weekly ministerial briefings, in a deliberate fight against disinformation.

“You are not spectators in 2027. You are active participants. Become custodians of information integrity — not propagandists, but protectors of truth,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described editors as vital partners in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying the administration’s open and egalitarian media environment reflects its respect for the constitutional principles of press freedom.

“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, not a single radio or television station has been threatened, gagged, or shut down for expressing dissent. This is a conscious commitment to uphold media independence”, Idris said.

He announced that Nigeria had secured hosting rights for the International Media and Information Literacy Institute, a global platform that will position the country as a leader in promoting responsible journalism and media ethics.

“We are leveraging this opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s progress and leadership in shaping a more discerning global media landscape,” the Minister added.

Idris called on editors to tell the Nigerian story “with balance, with truth, and with an unyielding belief in the promise of our great nation,” adding that the administration’s reforms are designed to create a stronger foundation for prosperity and shared national purpose.

The two-day conference, which continues at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, features panel discussions on law, politics, and the economy.

The ANEC2025, which drew more than 400 editors across the nation’s media space, including print, broadcast and new media, was graced by top government functionaries, among whom were Governor Ahmed Ododo, members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and officials from various states.

Co-chaired by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar III and the Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of Thisday/Arise News Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, the event had former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Segun Osoba; and former Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, among lead participants.

Prominent speakers include Prof. Awa Kalu, who will lecture on “Election Disputes and Judicial Integrity: Navigating the Thin Line Between Law and Politics,” and Prof. Sheriff Ibrahim of the University of Abuja, who will speak on “State of the Nation: Imperative of Economic and Political Reforms in a Challenged Nation.”

On Thursday, discussions will shift to national security and the evolution of the newsroom, with Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.) presenting on “Media, Terrorism, and National Security,” and Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi of Baze University addressing “The Evolving Face of Journalism: Battling Misinformation, AI Disruption, and the Credibility Gap.”

The event will close with a gala night featuring the induction of new members and the elevation of new Fellows of the Guild, including Dr Amanze Obi, Casmir Igbokwe, Arinze Azuh, Ephraims Tokan Sheyin, Dr Sulaiman Sule, and Ken Njoku.