Ekiti NUJ Press Week 2022 Public Lecture: FEDPOLY Rector, Others Proffer Solutions To Religion, Ethnic Problems In Nigeria

By Olarewaju Falayi

The guest speaker for the 2022 Press Week Public Lecture of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ekiti State Council, Dr. Dayo Oladebeye, who is presently the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic in Ado Ekiti among other speakers have profered lasting solutions to the problems of Religion / Ethnic crisis that has been ravaging the Country Nigeria for sometimes now. 

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Dr. Dayo Oladebeye, the Rector of The Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti who was represented by Engineer Emmanuel Adeosun, a lecturer in the Institution while speaking on the theme titled: “2023 Elections: Beyond Religion, Ethnicity – Place Of The Media”, at the 2022 Annual Public Lecture of the Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Ekiti State on Thursday pointed out that situations of the Country at this period has become extremely difficult as a result of the dominant factors of religion and ethnicity. 

Speaking further, he advised media professionals in the Country to take more serious the place of the media before, during and after the 2023 general elections in the face of religion and ethnic bigotry as very crucial.

He harps on the need for Nigerians to take the 2023 general elections very serious as it is now everybody’s business to do so. 

Advising the media practitioners further, Oladebeye charged journalists to ensure that the people make informed choices, and act as watchdog to democratic election through accurate, fair and objective reportage. 

He stressed on the need for the media practitioners in the Country to continue to improve it’s role in acting as true watchdog to democratic elections which would be generally accepted by Nigerians to redeem the Country’s democratic processes and image which has been bastardized over the years. 

Oladebeye explained extensively that, a democratic election with no media freedom, or stifled media freedom would be a contradiction. He stressed that while the country is in serious need of a new all-inclusive political order, it has become so difficult in view of the dominant factors of  religion and ethnicity in the Country. 

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He revealed further that the place of the media before, during and after 2023 elections in the face of religion and ethnic bigotry is important.

“The media regardless of the organization and location should work together for the overall interest of the citizens and for a better Nigeria. The electorate should be educated to vote based on the competence of the candidates contesting at all levels, rather than being sentimental on the basis of religion and ethnicity”.

The guest lecturer believed the media can engender full participation of the electorate in the democratic process by educating them on how to exercise their democratic rights, reporting on developments of election campaigns,providing platforms for the political  parties and candidates to communicate their messages to the voters among others.

Speaking also, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ekiti State Council, Comrade Rotimi Ojomoyela remarked that the place of the media was selected to stress the need for people to choose those who would lead them without considering religion and ethnicity. He noted that the capability and the manifestoes of each candidate should be considered before voting for them so that individuals with impeccable character would be given the mantle of leadership.

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Chairman of the occasion, Deputy Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Hakeem Jamiu advised Nigerians not to be carried away by religion and ethnicity during the 2023 general elections, but vote for the right candidate that would mean well for Nigeria and its citizens. 

He described Nigeria as a conducive and comfortable place to live, but fundamentally with the right leadership as 2023 beckons.

In the same development, speaking at the annual public lecture of the NUJ in Ekiti State, the Ekiti State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC,  Mrs. Mary Nenna Chikezie charged Journalists in Ekiti state to assist the Corps to publicize the benefits of the NYSC Trust Fund to the members of the public. 

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Mrs. Chikezie, who was represented by the Public Relations Officer, of the NYSC in Ekiti State,  Mr. Tunde Odunsi, gave the charge during the Public Lecture.

The Ekiti State Coordinator of the NYSC,  noted that the Trust Fund would go a long way in providing sustainable jobs for corps members, and also avail them the opportunity of sourcing for funds and finance the skills acquired during their service year.

Also, the State Coordinator through her Public Relations Officer for the Ekiti State NYSC, urged the Corps members who are expected to participate as Adhoc Staff members during the 2023 general elections to be apolitical in all ramifications.

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Present at the event are the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Ekiti State, Pharmacist Olatunde; his counterpart in the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Sola Adigun; the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, Honourable Taiwo Olatunbosun, the former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly; Mr. Tai Oguntayo, the former Chairman of the NUJ in Ekiti State among others. 

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