President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday called on Nigerian editors to use the power of the media to foster national unity, uphold integrity, and project a positive image of the country globally.
Speaking at the 21st Annual Conference of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (ANEC 2025) at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, Tinubu became the first Nigerian president to officially declare open a Guild of Editors’ conference.
“The image the media projects plays a vital role in shaping how the world perceives Nigeria and how citizens perceive themselves,” Tinubu said. He acknowledged the country faces challenges but reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to overcoming them through reforms and public trust.
Tinubu also addressed concerns raised by the Guild on tax reforms and media sustainability, noting that his administration would review corporate tax policies, value-added tax extensions, and other fiscal measures to support media digitisation and press freedom.
“Nation building requires cooperation, truth, and a shared understanding that our future is tied together. The media has a distinct responsibility to help shape a climate of reason and unity,” Tinubu added.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, delivering the keynote address, urged editors and media proprietors to accept accountability for how their coverage shapes public perception and national cohesion, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Electoral integrity begins with editorial integrity. Misinformation, rumours, and tribal framing compromise the vote long before election day,” Uzodinma said, citing lessons from the 2023 polls where premature reporting undermined confidence in the electoral process.
He described the current “trust deficit” in Nigeria’s information ecosystem as corrosive and warned that both government and media coverage could exacerbate polarisation if handled irresponsibly.
The two-day event, continuing at the NAF Conference Centre, will feature panel discussions on law, politics, the economy, and the media’s watchdog role. Several editors were also inducted as Fellows of the Guild, while new members from prominent national and regional media organisations were formally welcomed.
