President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has lauded the pivotal role of Nigerian journalists in advancing the democratic ideals birthed from the June 12 struggle, which culminated in the country’s current democratic dispensation.

 

Speaking through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, at the 70th Anniversary Gala, Award Night, and Book Presentation of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, the President reiterated his enduring bond with the media.

 

“From the trenches of the June 12 struggle to the presidency, his affinity with the press remains unmatched,” Idris said.

 

 

 

The President called on media professionals to actively promote Nigeria’s democratic achievements in areas such as governance reform, infrastructure development, civic engagement, and socio-economic progress. He emphasized the media’s critical role in consolidating democratic gains and building public trust in institutions.

 

However, Tinubu also warned of the growing threats posed by fake news and disinformation, especially with the rise of generative AI and deepfakes.

 

“Ethical journalism is not just important—it is essential,” Idris stated.

 

 

 

He announced a landmark initiative: the Federal Government’s partnership with UNESCO to establish the world’s first Category-2 Media and Information Literacy Institute in Abuja. The Institute will serve as a hub for media literacy and the promotion of responsible journalism in the digital age.

 

Idris reaffirmed the government’s readiness to collaborate with the NUJ on journalist welfare, digitization, gender inclusion, and institutional strengthening.

 

Veteran journalist and elder statesman, Chief Olusegun Osoba, also spoke at the event, urging the NUJ and the Federal Government to tackle fake journalism and uphold ethical standards.

 

“If impostors continue to undermine professional standards, the credibility and future of journalism are at risk,” he warned.

 

 

 

Osoba encouraged journalists to embrace innovation and adapt to the digital era, while standing firm against partisan influence and misinformation.

 

NUJ President, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, described the Union’s 70-year journey as a beacon of professionalism and national development.

 

“Our 70th anniversary is not just a commemoration of our past, but a rallying cry for a future anchored in ethical journalism and press freedom,” he said.

 

 

 

Founded on March 15, 1955, the NUJ began as a welfare platform for journalists and has grown into a cornerstone institution in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.