At Lokoja venue of 29th NMMA, Governor Yahaya Bello Demands Award for “Fakest News Reporter, Newspaper of the Year”
Governor of Kogi state, Northcentral Nigeria, Yahaya Bello, has insisted that about two years after the outbreak of COVID-19, the state still has no single case of the deadly disease.
This is contrary to the data from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control that, which has record of five cases for the state.
Platforms Africa reports that Bello who reiterated his no-COVID-19-case narrative when his state hosted the 29th edition of the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA), declared that the last lockdown of the country’s economy because of COVID-19 was nnecessary.
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Addressing over 200 journalists at the event, Bello demanded Award for Best Fake News Reporter and Newspaper of the Year. This, he said, is a naming and shaming strategy, which would help sanitize the industry if fake news and outright lies.
The 29th edition of the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) ceremony 2021 on Sunday morning came to an end with 50 awards given to journalists and media organisations across the country.
Platforms Africa reports that the grant award presentation ceremony which was attended by eminent personalities within and outside the shores of the country, captain of industries, government officials and residents of Kogi State kick-started at 8:30 pm and ended by 2:30 am on Sunday.
The Chief host, Governor Bello in his address charged media organisations and practitioners to imbibe self-regulation to tackle the menace of fake news capable of destabilizing the nation.
According to him, sanitizing the media industry and keeping it professional is a job the media practitioners must do for themselves, saying the government cannot help to avoid being caught in the web of censorship.
Governor Bello who lamented that every attempt to regulate fake news or hate speech by the government has raised hue and cry among media organisations with accusations of gagging free speech said the time has come for media practitioners to face the challenge like other professional bodies to sanitize the noble profession as the watchdog of the society.
“The bravest and most professional individuals among you need to set examples in standing up to these giant forces for the more timid ones.
“They can do that by remaining resolutely true to what is ethical, actual or factual, no matter whose ox is gored. The profession needs to institutionalize reward and punishment systems for professional misconduct in the line of duty.
While commending the NMMA awards for provoking the pursuit of excellence by media practitioners, Governor Bello, charged media organisations to go the extra mile and come up with innovative methods to help stem the tide of unprofessional behaviour in the media industry.
“I would suggest that you become creative in naming and shaming those who deal in inaccurate reportage. For instance, you could institute another set of awards like they have in some countries like the USA to name and shame those, individuals and media houses alike, who carry the fakest news or hate speech every year.”
He congratulated all the awardees and described them as the shining lights of the 4th estate of the realm and charged them to maintain high levels of professional conduct and performance going forward.
In his welcome address, the Chairman, NMMA Board of Trustees, Dr Haroun Al-Rashid Adamu commended the Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, for hosting the 29th edition of the Nigeria Media Merit Award.
