Olu Samuel, Lokoja

Owners of media institutions in the country must as a matter of urgency, put the nation first and rise above their personal interests.

Former Executive Director Programmes Nigerian Television Authority, Mrs. Eugenia Abu made the call on Thursday while delivering a Convocation lecture at the 5th Convocation Ceremony of the Salem University Lokoja

Mrs. Eugenia Abu who is the Managing Partner/ Chief Executive Officer The Eugenia Abu Media, said they must be the enablers of our democracy ideals through their media platforms by providing the necessary capacities and infrastructure for their staff to perform optimally.

The lecture titles” Beyond the 2023 Elections: The Role of The Media in Deepening Democracy in Nigeria”.

According to her, media play a crucial role in shaping healthy democracy, adding that it is the backbone of democracy.

She noted that the media must peer review, how well has it carried out it’s constitutional assignment vide section 22 of the Constitution.

“What are professional media organisations doing to help ensure the media is carrying out its constitutional responsibility? What are they doing to build the capacity of their members

” The media must be deeply knowledgeable to be able to provide the much needed illumination for citizens on their rights, and on issues of governance while holding leaders accountable

” It is important that different organisations give life to training the media be it on human trafficking, the physically challenged or election coverages,” she said.

According to her, voter education is critical to democracy sustenance and must not stop even after an election.

Her words, ” Alarmed at the number of.votes for Big brother Nigeria, an entertainment programme at one point 3 billion votes as against 96 million votes garnered by winners of the Presidential election in four different election cycles.