Do Stories That Promote Democratic Values, Orientation Agency Tells Media

The director-general of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has charged media organisations in Nigeria to promote stories that define the nation’s history and uphold the core values of democracy.

Issa-Onilu made the call at the 2025 News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)/NUJ Press Week held yesterday in Abuja, with the theme: “The Place of the Media in Shaping and Sustaining National Values.”

He noted that the Nigerian media landscape plays a vital role in promoting peace, unity, and national cohesion by reflecting the country’s shared values and aspirations.

“When the media chooses truth over rumor, context over conjecture, and the public interest over private gain, it actively sustains the values that hold our society together,” Issa-Onilu said.

He added that responsible and positive reporting can strengthen democracy, inspire generations, and help preserve the moral fabric of society.

“The media is not only a recorder of events but a preserver of our nation’s moral fabric,” he stated.

Commending NAN for its consistency and professionalism, Issa-Onilu described the agency as one of the “quiet yet formidable pillars of truth” in Nigeria’s journalism space.

“Though the organization often operates in the background, it has consistently proven to be the silent engine of credibility, ensuring that facts, context, and balance remain at the heart of Nigerian journalism,” he said.

He further urged journalists to remember that every published story, headline, and image contributes to the shaping of history and the values that define the nation.

“We are writing history. Every word published is more than just news—it is the foundation upon which perceptions are built, values are shaped, and nations are defined,” he emphasized.

“The media stood as a bridge between the government and the people, and as a mirror through which society could see its strengths and weaknesses,” he said.

In his remarks, the managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mallam Ali M. Ali, said the agency is working to reposition itself to compete with top global news brands such as Reuters and the Associated Press.

“It may seem a tall ambition, but we are not daunted,” Ali said. “As Muhammad Ali once said, ‘If your dream doesn’t scare you, you’re not dreaming big enough.’ We believe the steps we’ve taken in recent years have rekindled and repositioned the agency.”

He acknowledged challenges of limited funding and infrastructure but expressed confidence in the dedication and professionalism of NAN’s workforce.

“Despite our constraints, the spirit here is high. In the last two years, our reporters have won laurels and accolades across the country, and NAN continues to provide leadership at both state and correspondent levels of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ),” he added

The NUJ chairman in the FCT, Comrade Grace Ikeh, said the media holds a powerful position in society—not only informing and educating the public but also shaping the values that bind the nation together.

“We must uphold transparency, accountability, and dialogue,” she said. “As journalists, we must amplify the voices of the marginalized, celebrate stories that inspire hope and patriotism, and recommit to integrity, fairness, and professionalism.”

Similarly, the NUJ chairman in NAN Headquarters, Comrade Collins Yakubu-Hammer, said the media is more than a messenger—it is a mirror of society and a builder of national identity.

He emphasised the importance of promoting values such as honesty, patriotism, unity, hard work, resilience, kindness, discipline, justice, and respect for human dignity.

“In an age where misinformation and fake news spread faster than truth, our role as journalists has never been more critical,” Yakubu-Hammer said. “We must ensure that our platforms enlighten rather than divide, and strengthen rather than weaken public trust.”

He added that the Press Week provides a vital opportunity for reflection and recommitment to ethical journalism that sustains national values and promotes the public good.