The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), in collaboration with UNICEF and Imo State Government, has initiated a ground-breaking workshop aimed at enhancing the role of the media in fostering regional development. This two-day event, scheduled to take place in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, on the 23rd and 24th of October 2024, is a pivotal moment for media professionals to come together and address the pressing socio-economic, political, and environmental challenges facing Nigeria’s South-East and South-South regions.
Headed by the esteemed NGE President, Mr. Eze Anaba, and the General Secretary, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, this workshop brings together 50 senior editors and media executives from various platforms including print, electronic, and online media. The participants, hailing from the nine states within the South-East and South-South zones of Nigeria, are tasked with harnessing the power of the media to shed light on the multifaceted issues plaguing these regions.
In a joint statement, the NGE emphasized the crucial role of the media in raising awareness, amplifying marginalized voices, and disseminating information on critical social services, policies, and programs. With challenges such as poverty, infrastructure deficiencies, environmental degradation, and socio-political conflicts looming large, the media is seen as a potent force in addressing these issues through informed reporting and impactful storytelling.
Acknowledging the significance of this collaboration, the NGE, the Imo State Government, and UNICEF underscored the influential role of the media in shaping public opinion, mobilizing community action, providing a platform for underrepresented voices, facilitating dialogue, and holding those in power accountable. The potential of the media to drive change through collaborative reporting, data-driven journalism, social media engagement, investigative reporting, and solutions-focused storytelling is vast and untapped.
Under the theme “The Media as Partners in Regional Development,” the workshop is set to feature presentations by experts and stakeholders, providing participants with the necessary skills and tools to engage with and report on the socio-economic and environmental challenges in the region effectively. With renowned mass communication scholar Prof. Stella Okunna chairing the event, the workshop aims to empower media professionals to create narratives that address the needs of vulnerable populations, particularly children, and collaborate with stakeholders to drive positive development outcomes.
As the workshop prepares to kick off, the anticipation is high, with Imo State Governor Senator Hope Uzodinma set to inaugurate the event. The collaborative efforts of the NGE, the state government, and UNICEF, with the guidance of NGE President and UNICEF’s Head in Nigeria, promise a transformative experience that will not only elevate the role of the media in regional development but also inspire meaningful change for the betterment of society.