Nigeria
Sultan urges journalists to be fairPosted Mar 17 2009
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Saíad Abubakar III, has asked Nigerian journalists to refrain from sensationalism and falsehood in their reports so as not to adversely affect the country’s development, This Day Online reported.
According to the Web site, the Sultan said this during a ceremony at the Sultan Maccido Institute of Quranic Studies in Sokoto, where he was conferred with the Honorary Fellowship Award by the Nigerian Union of Journalists.
The Sultan urged the need for journalists to practice fair reporting and maintain truth in their stories.
“Whatever we do, we should always uphold the truth and not undermine the security of our nation just for the sake of making names, because Nigeria is the only country we have, therefore we must avoid anything that would put it into chaos,” the Sultan said. “I am saying this because I am now part of you.”
He also stressed the need to practice ethical journalism, as doing so would strengthen values of justice in society as well as promote a peaceful co-existence among diverse ethnic groups in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, NUJ President Ndegene Aku asked eminent Nigerians to work toward better welfare packages for media personnel. “The Nigerians owe the media a lot, especially looking at their tremendous contribution to the well-being of the country,” he says.
More information
- This Day Online