By Prof. (Obong) Sunday N. Etukudoh
Protocol
I stand before you today with deep appreciation and great humility, welcoming you all to the 2024 World Press Freedom Day – a day set aside to promote the importance of journalism and freedom of speech, to educate the public on the current issue of global environmental crisis, to mobilise political will and resources to address the emerging global problems, and of course, to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity.
First and foremost, I wish to express my deep appreciation on the invitation extended to me to serve as the Chairman of the 2024 World Press Freedom Day celebration here in our very peaceful and progressive State under the very compassionate, determined, highly resourceful and achievements-packed Governor, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno. I commend His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno and his entourage for the passionate effort to galvanize oneness and development in Akwa Ibom State.
Let me, particularly welcome and commend in a very special way, the woman that I cherish and respect so much, the Special Guest of Honour, the Wife of the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Eka Esit-mbom, Her Excellency, Mrs. Ekaette (Unoma) Godswill Akpabio and her entourage for finding time to be here. Eka Esit-mbom, you are a great woman! You are a wonderful and very supportive mother. I am very well aware that your supporters and admirers call you Action woman! Indeed, you are truly a woman of actions. God bless you more.
I also like to thank you all for your esteemed presence at this event. You could have found excuses not to be here but you allowed your selfless spirit to take root in love and solidarity to the NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council. . Let me submit to you that your participation in this event is a loud demonstration of the interest and commitment you have for journalism as a profession, particularly commitment to excellence, knowledge sharing and the pursuit of a better future for humanity. May God richly bless and reward you bountifully.
At this point, please permit me also to send words of commendation to the Central Planning Committee, the organizing body of this occasion, for the doggedness and sense of purpose in planning and carrying out the 2024 World Press Freedom Day in Akwa Ibom State. Thank you for your effort.
I understand that the first World Press Freedom Day held about 30 years ago in 1994 and of the historic Santiago Declaration adopted during the Seminar on the Development of Media Democracy in America and the Caribbean, ushered in the era of promoting the right to freedom of expression and of the Press as the development and recognition of community, independence and plurality of the media in Latin America and the Caribbean. As a corollary, the 2023 World Press Freedom Index which assessed 180 nations and territories and released on May 3rd in honour of World Press Freedom Day, places Norway at the top of the summit for the seventh consecutive year. It noted that conditions are ”very serious” in 31 of them, ”difficult” in 42, ”problematic” in 55 and ”good” or ”satisfactory” in 52. Stated differently, the climate for journalism is ”bad” in seven out of 10 nations and satisfactory in only 3. Even while there have been a few notable ascents in Africa, such as Botswana’s 35-place advance to the 65th rank, there is still much room for improvement. 40% of the countries in the continent view the general state of affairs as unfavourable, compared to 33% in 2022. This has led to the continent being regarded as the new disinformation and propaganda laboratory. Therefore, this is a great opportunity to ask ourselves how we have fared in the last thirty years in Nigeria.
Ladies and Gentlemen, looking at the personalities in this audience, an assemblage of distinguished members of the fourth estate of the realm, scholars and men of honour, this is indeed, a great occasion. It is epochal, perhaps a gathering of this magnitude could signal to our people that a new season has arrived for Akwa Ibom State in particular, perhaps greatness could resonates in the mind of our people that we are not atomistic in nature, that we love ourselves, we love developmental journalism, we love good education, we love dynamism, we love good things in general and we love the hand work of God Almighty as co-travellers on the path of community building.
Upon the above, it gives me unstinted pleasure to be here, considering the importance of what we are here for – a beautiful mix of the Press and the planet. The theme of this year’s celebration is ”A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of Environmental Crises”. The sub-theme is ”Navigating Press Freedom Through Unity in Cultural Diversity.” The theme and sub-theme are quite apt and are bold enough in an attempt to assess the progress being made by journalists in Nigeria as well as identifying the roadmap to tomorrow and the future. Therefore, we are here to sustain the tackle against the emerging problems in our dynamic environment. We would be aiming to leapfrog the potentials of professional journalism in the face of challenged environmental settings to condition Press Freedom through unity in cultural diversity. In order to salvage the fundamental challenge, I am sure we would have agreed to collaborate to midwife a dynamic Press for emerging crisis in the Planet Earth. This sentiment gives me joy (I hope it does same to you) that I am at the right place to fulfill my avowed commitment towards improving journalism and humanity. I am therefore, very happy seeing the huge turnout and enthusiasm in the stakeholders attending this assembly.
In my view, we would not just participate in the Anniversary but would also participate meaningfully to the worthwhile cause of integrating journalistic building blocks to our dilapidated environment. As a corollary to this event, we would be specifically engaged in thought-provoking sessions while gaining useful insights on requisite contemporary paradigms of navigating Press Freedom through Unity in our cultural but dynamic world. I am rest assured that our collective wisdom and shared experiences will serve as a guiding light, ensuring that journalism not only adapts to the changing environment but also plays a leading role in shaping Press Freedom through unity in cultural diversity for the betterment of our society.
Given the wide range of experiences and set of skills of the great persons that were selected as keynote presenters for today, I expect that through robust discussions, this convergence will breathe more life into our challenged location and reset an agenda which will guide the thoughts and consciences of our people and government to improve our challenged environment.
As we gather here, the world is undergoing rapid and profound transformations in various facets, from technology and globalization to environmental sustainability and regulatory changes. These dynamics impact not only the broader world but also our beloved country. The Press has always been an agent of development. In these changing times therefore, the role of the Press is evolving very seriously. We must not only adapt to the challenges but also seize the opportunities the present.
As you may be aware, today we stand at the crossroads of tradition and innovation, ethics and compliance, data and analytics. Journalism is expanding to encompass new frontiers and as stakeholders, it is the responsibility of the Press to navigate this landscape with competence, integrity and resilience. It is a full agenda, reflecting the huge range of work of the Press. One of the important agenda is to narrow down guidelines that will empower relevant stakeholders to put in place a governance system that can foster freedom of expression while tackling emerging crisis in our environment.
Again, the triple planetary crisis-climate change, biodiversity loss and air pollution along with their connection to public health, the need to strengthen democracy, to tackled disinformation/misinformation on digital platforms are also challenges confronting Journalists. I perceive that Journalists encounter significant challenges in seeking and disseminating information on contemporary issues, such as supply-chain problems, extractive industries, illegal mining, poaching, animal trafficking and deforestation. Others have to do with terrorism, kidnapping, farmers-herders clashes among others. Ensuring the visibility of these issues is critical for promoting peace and democratic values all over the world. The various threats (physical, economic, political, psychological, digital and legal) to which journalists are subjected to reflect a complex context in which there is a constant struggle for information control.
The challenging story in the Press sector may be a summary of the endemic problem in our clime. One of the biggest threats to journalism comes from a falling away of trust in the media. This is often linked to a general mistrust of institutions, occasioned by rising inequalities that lead to a sense among communities that those in power do not have their best interests at heart. Apparently, those in power also get miffed in the thought that the Press is out to put sand in their garri. In the face of this context, guideline of actions for risks and strategies to face inequalities, insecurity and precarious working conditions in the practice of journalism is desirable. Guideline for safety and challenges of journalism in the presence of the current global environmental crisis is equally desirable.
Without pre-empting today’s discourse, let me posit that if the development of guidelines for action is desirable, then we ought to see it particularly from the prism of proportionate universalism:
Understanding that Policies should be universal, yet proportionate to need.
Focusing solely on the most disadvantaged people will fail to achieve the required reduction in inequalities necessary to reduce the steepness of the social gradient. Therefore, it is important that actions be universal yet calibrated proportionately to the level of disadvantage, realizing that Social arrangements and institutions such as education, social care, and work have a huge impact on the opportunities that empower people to choose their own course in life. Experience of these social arrangements and institutions differs enormously and their structures and impacts are, to a greater or lesser extent, influenced or mitigated by national and transnational policies etc.
The United Nations in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights maintained that ”Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. This right include freedom to hold opinions without interference and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers” Under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the obligation of the Press in the context of the Fundamental objectives and directive principles of State Policy are stated in the following terms; The Press, radio, television and other agencies of mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people”.
Chapter 4, Section 39 of the same states that ”Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impact ideas and information without inference.” The frontier of freedom in Nigeria is further strengthened by the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 2011. The Act gives a person, group, association or organization, the right to assess information from government agencies, parastatals, federal civil service, private and public sector organization providing services. The FOIA supersede the Official Secret Act (OSA) originally enacted in 1911 which forbade the unauthorised transmission, obtaining, reproduction or retention of any classified matter.
With all these instruments in place, the logical question to ask is: Has Press Freedom been assured in Nigeria?. The emphatic answer is: “No” even though the Press has done well to ensure the survival of democracy in Nigeria. The worst period in the crusade to attend Press Freedom in Nigeria was during the military interregnum. This was most pronounced during the administrations of Major General Muhammadu Buhari (1983-1985), General Ibrahim Babangida (1985-1993) and General Sani Abacha (1993-1998). These dark days of curtailment of civil liberties witnessed the closure of media houses on the flimsiest of excuses and the locking of media executives for publishing the truth. It is sad to recall how two foremost journalists (Mr. Tunde Thompson and Mr. Nduka Irabor) in the stable of the Guardian newspapers were sent to prison with a retrospective legislation during the regime of Gen Buhari. The late Dele Giwa, former Editor in Chief of Newswatch magazine, a very talented writer and columnist was killed by a letter bomb, the first of its kind in Nigeria, perhaps for publishing the truth. We need not point accusing fingers. But suffice to say that it happened during the regime of Gen Babangida. The irresponsible closure of Newswatch Communication Limited by the military is still fresh in our mind. These setbacks did not prevent the Press from upholding Press Freedom. The Democracy, we are witnessing and cultivating today is the great accomplishment of our Press.
Although, the Freedom of expression and Opinion is guaranteed by the Constitution, there are numerous regulations that can be used to block Journalists’ work. These include laws pertaining to cybercrime, terrorism and state secrets. Additionally, defamation is still considered a criminal offense under the Penal Code. Recent years have seen the proposal of several extremely risky social media regulations, which has sparked criticism. Information access is still quite challenging. I proudly and openly maintain that we are surviving as a nation today because of the commitment of our journalists in holding the government to account for their stewardship to the Nigerian people. Even still, our governments are still punishing the Press for discharging their constitutional responsibilities to the masses of our people and our nation.
I recognise Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Akwa Ibom State Council and the very important roles they could play to foster an improved future for our challenged environment. In my opinion, it is of major importance that actions to be taken by the Council should be without undue politicisation and parochialism. For example, what would you gain or lose if you clamp down on the complex digital landscape in Akwa Ibom State characterized by the proliferation of new actors mainly non-professionals, the overburdening of digital platforms and social media? I respect and admire your profession but I seriously believe that all of us cannot be journalists in the way we are practising journalism in the social media space. I urge you therefore to think more positively about regulation to restore sanity less the objectives of the 2024 World Freedom Day are thrown to the dogs.
At this juncture, please permit me to send my thoughts to the Governing Board of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council. I recognise and celebrate your individual self-worth as great men of impeccable character. I recognise and celebrate your collective ability to strengthen the ideals of the Council. I frankly confess that the selection of men of noble virtues to man the affairs of your Council is a right step in the NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council’s march towards a glorious future. However, I enjoin you to be firm and very visionary.
As we observe the 2024 World Press Freedom Day, I like to recall and remind you of some of your ethics as Journalists. These include principles of truthfulness, accuracy and fact-based communication, Independence and objectivity.
Others include impartiality, fairness and respect for others and public accountability. I also indulge the rare privilege to remind you of the 4Cc of your trade which are creativity, curiosity, commitment and compassion. Please soldier so. The future is great for all of us with you at the driving seat
I wish to also use this opportunity to endorse and recommend to the NUJ the concept note published by UNESCO in furtherance of achieving the 2024 World Press Freedom Day.
These include:
- Assess and discuss the situation of the right to press freedom globally, identifying areas where journalists face repression, violence or censorship
- Establish and strengthen ties between different actors, such as media organizations, NGO, governments and international bodies, to work together to promote and protect the right to press freedom
- Reaffirm our commitments to freedom of expression and press freedom as human rights enshrined in various international instruments, recognising their importance for the strengthening of democratic societies
- Call for the importance of reliable and accurate information, especially that which denounces and investigates the environmental crises and its effect
- Raise awareness on the urgency to defend the media from attacks on their independence, freedom and pluralism and recall the Windhoek+30 Declaration on Information as a common good
- Recall the Santiago Declaration, which stresses the importance of respecting media pluralism and cultural, linguistic, and gender diversity as a fundamental factor of democratic societies and which should be reflected in all media
- Pay tributes to journalists who have lost their lives and those who fight for their freedom in the line of duty
- Raise awareness about violence faced by journalists and communication workers when promoting sustainable development and environmental protection, encouraging a gender-responsive perspective that promotes non-sexist journalistic discourse
- Promote professional journalism that discusses the eradication of all types of discrimination and biases against women
- Call for greater support for the media to strengthen their institutional capacities to report climate change and environmental crises, paying special attention to the viability of the media
- Accelerate people’s media and information literacy to foster critical and informed thinking skills as the main tool to combat the problem of dis-/misinformation and its effect on our democracies
- Take advantage of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development to highlight the fundamental role of freedom of expression for science journalists emphasising the need to protect this freedom while actively combating disinformation in science
- Promote stronger policies as well as national and international cooperation in support of memory institutions as custodians of primary sources of environmental information for journalistic practice
Furthermore, as we embark on this journey of knowledge exchange and collaboration, I urge everyone here present to actively participate, share expertise and embrace the challenges that lie ahead while working to sustain the culture of professional excellence, integrity, love, peace, togetherness, selflessness, social stability, integration, co-operation, generosity and general harmony often cherished as great ideals. Together, we can steer the Press in Akwa Ibom State toward a future of enduring relevance and influence.
At this point, I feel a great sense of responsibility. I am deeply reminded of the words of Martin Luther King Jnr, “History has thrust upon me a responsibility from which I cannot turn away.” I hereby call on you to always count on me as a partner of choice to do more for humanity and the Press. For me, I have accepted to identify with your noble cause not only because of my belief that concerted effort is vital and desirable for the Press sector development and advancement but also to encourage and inspire the younger ones that the future of journalism beckons with hope.
Upon the above, I look forward to fruitful discussions, meaningful connections and above all, a global commemoration that leaves the Press in Akwa Ibom State better equipped to navigate the evolving landscape of journalism in Nigeria and beyond.
Thank you and God bless.
Being an address by Prof. (Obong) Sunday N. Etukudoh, FMLSCN, FWAPCMLS, FCAI, PROVOST/CEO, Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos on the occasion of 2024 World Press Freedom Day by Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council at NUJ Press Centre, Uyo on Friday, May 03, 2024
