Imported User:
Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), on Thursday called on the media to focus attention on challenges facing Nigeria.
Anyim said at the launch of Metropole magazine in Abuja that the media should adopt new strategies to address issues bordering on the survival of the country.
Metropole magazine is a publication of SW4 Media limited, based in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said that the media was critical in the quest for solutions to the numerous problems confronting the nation and must be a critical stakeholder in national development.
The SGF said that given its important role, the media should emphasise responsible journalism in editorial content and other aspects, especially in the effort to solve the numerous problems facing the country.
Anyim advised the publisher and the editorial staff of the outfit to stick to its founding philosophy at all times.
On his part, the Minister of FCT, Sen. Bala Mohammed, saluted the courage of the publisher in venturing into a field that had recently been target of terror attacks.
He said the character of the magazine showed versatility and doggedness of the Nigerian media.
Mohammed said that the location of the publication in the FCT was a statement that the territory was becoming a haven for investors and tourists.
The minister assured media organisations based in the FCT of his administration’s commitment to provide a safe and secure environment for their operations.
In his remarks, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, commended the media for their determination to carry on with their work in spite of attacks on some newspaper offices in Abuja and Kaduna recently.
Represented by his deputy, Rep. Emeka Ihedioha, the speaker urged the media not to be deterred by the recent attacks and urged the publisher to adopt a progressive philosophy that was development oriented.
The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, advised the media to redefine its agenda.
``It is time for the media in this country to redefine the agenda it wants to project.
``Let us de-emphasise giving publicity to those issues that tend to take us back and concentrate on issues of development.
```Focusing development issues is the only way to keep terrorists activities away from spaces in the media which had hitherto been given undue publicity in the past,’’ Maku said.
The magazine was reviewed by a member of `ThisDay' newspapers Editorial Board,
Mr Okey Okechukwu.
The event was attended by friends and associates of the publisher, Mr Waziri Adio. (NAN)
