Chief Olusegun Osoba, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Mr Babajide Sanwo Olu and Dr Kayode Fayemi at the event. Photo: Efunla Ayodele

Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has charged media leaders to take conscious and constructive actions towards nation building.

He made this remark on Friday while delivering the keynote address at the event tagged, Afternoon of Tributes: Honouring the dead, Inspiring the living, which was organized to celebrate the life and times of departed media leaders that had played significant roles in our nation’s history. The event held at Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

The distinguished media practitioners celebrated were: Malam Ismaila Isa, OFR; Malam Wada Maida; Mr. Bisi Lawrence; Chief Gbolabo Ogunsanwo; Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah; Mr. Eddie Aderinokun Mr. Ben Egbuna; Prince Tony Momoh; and Alhaji Lateef Jakande.

Osinbajo tasked media practitioners because of the enormous powers the media wields in the society, which he says comes with a huge responsibility. He enjoined them against the backdrop of the threat which social media pose to economic and socio-political stability as a result of the dissemination of fake news. “There is a reason why the media is described as the fourth estate of the realm in terms of its sheer ability to influence acts and minds and direct the public imagination,” he said.

Osinbajo also said media leaders must take constructive actions because we are at yet another defining moments in history, the age of technology where once the dissemination of news was the preserve of state and corporations the information revolution has completely democratized the media environment.

“The very meaning of the term ‘media owner’ has changed. And no longer refers to people in focus, of course that is why we are here. In this era of citizen journalism everyone now has a voice, whether through blogs, websites, and online publications.

“The democratization of information unleashed by information age has also introduced rare related risk with serious implications on economic and socio-political stability. A difficult and private interest now controls means of information dissemination that were once the exclusive preserve of corporations and governments which we could easily call to account. These capabilities are increasingly used now in all sorts of harrowing ways by those who harbour ill intents

“I believe that as media leaders you must use the considerable influence that you have to seek ways of achieving a consensus on the response to use of social media,” he maintained.

The Vice President also said all hands must be on deck to create the kind of society we desire, adding that nation building is not the sole preserve of politicians and governments but also the civil society, which includes the media. He maintained that the country is fractured along positive and negative polarities, between those with beneficial intent to create and build and those with malicious intent to destroy the nation.

“These developments converge with this period of turbulence in the life of our nation. There is really no question at all, that what should occupy our minds. It is whether we are building up our country or whether we are tearing it down. This is a question that we must ask ourselves in every sphere of human endeavour. It is the yardstick by which history will judge our generation. Because really there is only one divide at this point. It is the line between those who are committed to constructive actions and those who are pursuing a destructive purpose.

“Today, we too must embrace the quest before us, make common cause with progressive nation-builders across all divides, take ownership of our country and build a sustainable future for our children,” Osinbajo admonished.

He also said: “Debates over our country’s future will always be intense and passionate but they need not be toxic or polarizing. The media can help to promote a climate of civility in which even the most contentious national issues can be discussed in full and frank terms without degenerating into chaos. Let us reject the temptation to fracture our society and chose instead to elevate those constructive elements in our midst that can promote justice, healing and togetherness.

The Vice President displaying a rare grasp of the history of the Nigerian media, the historical role its practitioners played and continue to play in nation building, played glowing tributes to the media leaders being celebrated; describing them as remarkable and outstanding.

Osinbajo also displayed a rare knowledge of the information about the media leaders that are not in the public domain. “The deep and rich history of the Nigeria press is unknown to many. The Nigerian press has deep roots going back about 150 years. Indeed, the Nigerian press came into existence before the Nigeria itself and was instrumental to the birthing of this nation.

“That we have a democracy today owes in large part to the sacrifices of the media …The media leaders in whose name and memory we have gathered today are giants precisely because they understood the struggles of their times and embraced their roles in them. In so doing, they wrote their names in gold and remain reference points for succeeding generations.”

Mr Jim Ovia, Prince Nduka Obaigbena and Chief Olusegun Osoba. Photo: Efunla Ayodele

Mr Jim Ovia, Prince Nduka Obaigbena and Chief Olusegun Osoba. Photo: Efunla Ayodele

It was indeed an afternoon of tributes, an intergenerational meeting point, in which the dead were not only honoured, but also the living were inspired. Distinguished media practitioners paid glowing to their departed colleagues by going down memory lane and unearthing exemplary and inspiring stories about them and their contributions to journalism and the nation. This session was moderated by two distinguished journalists, Ademola Oyinlola, Deputy Editor In Chief, TELL magazine and Kadaria Ahmed, former Editor, Next, Nigeria.