Nigerian media commemorate World Press Freedom Day

Nigerian media commemorate World Press Freedom Day
Qasim Akinreti, Lagos Adoba, Echono Abuja,

Nigerian Journalists have joined their counterpart around the world to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day at the Public Affairs section of the United States Embassy in Lagos.

The Abraham Lincoln hall, at the US Lagos Embassy, was filled to the brim with Journalists, media practitioners and stakeholders.

Led by the Chairman, Lagos Council Nigeria Union of Journalists, Wahab Oba and former leaders of the union, Journalists resolved that for the event to be meaningful, living wage  and other essential  rewards must be given to Journalists to appreciate their contributions to the social economic development of Nigeria.

With the theme, “Twenty first century media, New Frontiers, New Barriers,”, one of Nigeria’s leading editors of a Lagos based newspaper,"Thisday", Simeon Kolawole, was on hand to deliver a lecture on the theme.

Embracing new media

Kolawole was of the opinion that  Nigerian journalists should take up the advantages of the new media frontiers on the platform of social media to improve their skills.

He however warned on the dangers  and treaths of the new media in the areas of verification, ethical issues and  mudslinging.

The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki moon, in a message, harped on the need for Nigerian journalists to remember the contributions and plights of other journalists who have died and suffered some degradation in the course of duty across the world .

A minute of silence was offered for the repose of the souls of fallen heroes of journalism.

A video link across the Atlantic was provided by the US Public affairs section to interact with journalists in the US on the imperatives of the new media opportunities and challenges.

And in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, journalists were urged to maintain the sanctity and high ethical standards of the profession with the emergence of the new media.

These were the major issues of discuss in Nigeria as the country joins the rest of the world to commemorate the day.

The celebration also focused on the hazards faced by journalists in carrying out their duties around the world.

Williams