Professor Eddy Erhagbe, former Dean of Students Affairs of the University of Benin(UNIBEN), has charged journalists to do their job with the mindset of ensuring good leadership for the country.
The don was speaking as the Guest Lecturer of the World Press Freedom Day activities organised by the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) held on Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 in the Council’s Conference Room.
Zeroing in his argument on the theme of the lecture entitled Shaping a future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a Driver for all Other Human Rights, Professor Erhagbe said
that the media have been critical to the call for good governance during democratic rule and at the several military interregnums in the life of the country, adding that the challenge facing the country is not restructuring but good leadership.
According to him,“as a historian and expert in international studies, I believe and hold the view that the problem with Nigeria is not the structure of the country of Nigeria but the running of the affairs of the country.
“There are certain extant fallacies about the authenticity of certain geo-political configurations of pre-colonial Nigeria, this must be corrected, so that we can focus more on conscientiously and truthfully working to emancipate our people rather than hoodwink them by parochialism and religious and ethnic bigotry.
“I join the ranks of those who believe that Nigeria can make it with the right mix of leadership and followership. The media has a patriotic duty to encourage those things that would help to engender the unity of Nigeria.”
Earlier, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, Chairman of the Council, charged journalists not to be hindered in the process of practicing their profession especially as in some instances the terrain may be rough.
Major highlight of the occasion was the award of honour given to a realtor, Dorry Afe Okojie, for his humanitarian gestures.
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