Media
DR Patrick Dakum, Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), has commended Nigerian journalists for their resilience as they mark the 2024 World Press Freedom Day.
Dakum, in a statement by his media consultant, Shabul Mazadu, tasked the government with upholding press freedom for the good of society.
The IHVN chief executive lauded the men of the pen profession for tirelessly, dedicatedly, and enthusiastically discharging their journalistic duties in the face of perils, threats, risks, and stress.
The former governorship candidate of the Labor Party in Plateau said that journalists cross all borders to obtain and disseminate information for the benefit of the entire country.
According to the former commissioner of health and information, the significance of journalism and its role as the Fourth Estate of the Realm of Government in bettering the socio-econic wellbeing of the citizens, fostering development, and checking excesses of government were not in doubt.
He emphasised that journalists have stood for fighting vices and illegalities and enhancing security, equal rights, and justice.
“Their sacrifices cannot be quantified; hence, governments at all levels and citizens too should cooperate and grant all journalists press freedom.
“It is preposterous the bullying and threatening of journalists, likewise cajoling them into disseminating falsehoods and half-truths to mislead the citizens by politicians, the elite, and those in government.
“All journalists have the right to freedom of expression and to disseminate the truth to society for knowledge and accountability to thrive and for history-making.
“All bottlenecks to journalists in seeking and dispensing information should be destroyed, and freedom of information and expression should be enforced to the fullest,” he urged.
The IHVN chief executive admonished journalists to place more emphasis on their profession for the benefit of the public by accurately reporting events, objectively influencing public opinions, and ardently championing the course of a better country. (NAN)
F.A
May 3, 2024
Tags: press freedom
