The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has announced that its 17th All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC) will hold on October 21 and 22, 2021 in Abuja, focusing on the current security challenges in the nation.
The conference themed “Media In Times Of Crisis: Resolving Conflict, Achieving Consensus”, is aimed at achieving “consensus and collective agreement” among media owners, managers and senior editors on “what role to play in helping government resolve the seemingly intractable conflict enveloping the nation today.”
In a communique announcing the decisions reached by the Standing Committee of the body in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, signed by the President, Mustapha Isah and the General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the Guild acknowledged efforts by the government to achieve better results in tackling the nation’s security challenges but said much more needed to be done.
The NGE also highlighted the constitutional role of the media in holding government officials accountable to the people.
It noted that the government had a duty of providing an enabling environment for the media to perform its role devoid of intimidation, with journalists having the responsibility of ensuring they operate in line with the ethics of the profession.
The Guild said, “We restates that a free press remains one of the bedrocks of democracy and nothing must be done to shrink the space.
“We commend the intervention of the Nigeria Press Organisation in protecting the freedom of press in the country.’’
Meanwhile, the editors said that this year’s ANAC, the largest gathering of Nigerian editors and owners of newspapers, magazines, radio/television stations and online newspapers in Nigeria, will hold at the Nigerian Air Force Conference Centre (NAF) in Abuja between October 21 and 22.
According to the Guild, the annual conference would attract its foreign partners: World Editors Forum (WEF), West African Editors Forum (WAEF), African Editors Forum (AEF), International Press Institute (IPI) and World Association of Newspapers (WAN).
Also expected at the two-day conference are top security officers in the country, chief executive officers in the private sector, state governors, lawmakers, academics and others.
However, the body appreciated the government and people of Jigawa State for the conducive environment provided during its Standing Committee Meeting in Dutse.
