NCC Partners Media to Raise Awareness on Initiatives- Danbatta

NCC Partners Media to Raise Awareness on Initiatives- Danbatta

TECH DIGEST- The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, has stated that the media holds the ace in promoting credible elections in Nigeria as the campaigns and lead-up to the 2023 general elections intensify.

The governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, was present at the 18th All-Nigeria Editors Conference, which was organized by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and held at the Concord Hotels in Owerri, Imo State. Danbatta emphasized the significance of the roles played by journalists prior to, during, and following the 2023 elections.

Danbatta expressed his confidence that the dynamic Nigerian media, credited with its sterling performance from the history of the country’s political independence struggle, where Nigerian nationalists who were good journalists made “brilliant and courageous outing,” will work in the interest of the nation in his greeting to the conference, delivered by the Director, Public Affairs of the Commission, Reuben Muoka.

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Speaking on the conference’s theme, “2023: Political Landscape, Credible Elections, and the Role of the Editors,” Danbatta argued that strong journalism is essential to a lasting democratic culture because it promotes political stability.

He said he “believes the editors will leave the conference with resolutions setting clear, unambiguous and very robust parameters to guide the role of the media in the forthcoming elections in a fair, objective and balanced manner.”

“Beyond and above the traditional routine role of the media in information-sharing, education and entertainment, the media is a social agency constitutionally charged to watch those of us in public office from derailing from the pursuit of the social contract and the social good. No other agency of the civil society is so positioned to influence social progress,” he declared.

He also let the group know that the Commission is committed to putting the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020-2030) and the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2020-2025) into action, among other regulatory tools, in order to improve connectivity and social cohesion in the nation. He explained that appropriate infrastructure, such as the next 5G spectrum auction, is therefore intended to increase availability, accessibility, and affordability. There is no question, he claimed, that the presence of communications infrastructure will increase the legitimacy of elections.

In particular, Danbatta thanked the Nigerian media for believing in the NCC and assisting it in carrying out its duties from the very beginning of the shift from “state-dominated telecommunication operations to a deregulated, more liberalized market.”