Yar'Adua Tasks Media On
Vision 2020
Nigerian President Umaru Musa
Yar'Adua has urged the media to take more than a passive role in
the actualisation of the vision to make the country one of the
largest economies in the world by 2020.
The President, who made the charge in Abuja, also observed that
the media, as the fourth estate of the realm, had an important
role to play in enlightening the populace on how the target
could be met.
Yar'Adua spoke at the Quadrennial National Delegates' Conference
of the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers' Union of
Nigeria (RATTAWU).
The President, who observed that the country was passing through
a moment of silent changes, posited that the recent inauguration
of the National Council and National Steering Committee on
Vision 2020 demonstrated the government's commitment towards
over-coming some of the challenges the country was passing
through.
The President spoke through the Minister of Labour and Health,
Dr. Hassan Lawal.
He said: "This conference cannot be holding at a more auspicious
time. There are numerous challenges confronting Nigerians at all
strata of society and government is not unaware of these issues.
The recent inauguration of the National Council and the National
Steering Committee on Vision 2020 is a manifest resolve of the
government to confront these challenges and also further lay
foundation for the transformation of Nigeria from a developing
into a developed economy by the year 2020. It is at this
juncture that I want to highlight the important role that your
membership has to play in the actualisation of this programme
and nation building in general".
While noting the importance of information dissemination, the
President maintained that no matter how laudable the government
policy was, if it was not brought to the knowledge of the
populace, it had a high chance of not succeeding.
He, therefore, solicited partnership with the media on proper
dissemination of his seven-point agenda, "so that we can take
this country to the enviable height where we rightfully belong
as a nation and as a people".
NP/MICHAEL
