Albarka FM, under the Collaborative Media Project, has taken good governance and transparency advocacy to media Houses in Kwara State charging them to live up to their roles as agents of good governance in order to deepen democracy in Nigeria.
The round table discussion was held at the Nigerian Union of Journalists, hall, along Offa Road, Ilorin, and had in attendance managers of traditional media houses and online news platforms attendance.
Tagged “media independence and government accountability” the initiative was centred on how to ensure the media get desired independence to allow them to perform their primary responsibility as agents of good governance and voice for the voiceless without fear or favour.
Addressing the participants, a Lagos-based media expert, Kayode Ogunbunmi, charged the media practitioners on the ethics of professionalism and said there is always a way of triumph for anyone doing the work professionally and clients and stakeholders would be forced to reckon with a such media platform.
Another resource person, Akinlolu Akinpelumi, a political scientist, dwelled on how to be independent and said that non-state actors with a special interest in good governance, and accountability are essential for a better society. He called on the participating media executives to identify their station’s core area of competence in order to attract resources from their core target audience and sustain their institutions.
He further advised the media houses to always prepare annual reports and audited accounts saying this will give them an edge anytime applying for sponsorship.
Albarka FM will later train some selected journalists for skills building on good governance, accountability and any other area that will enhance better living for the citizens.
In his closing remarks, Executive Director of Albarka FM, Dr Rasheed Adigun, appreciated the participating media executives and sought further collaboration that will enhance the capacity of media practitioners in the state and further bring good governance to the citizens.
As a key voice in the media space, securing your buy-in and strategic partnership is of great importance. This project is supported by the MacArthur Foundation.
Source: Albarka FM
