The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has charged the country’s security agencies to step up intelligence gathering and be proactive in handling security challenges currently facing the country.
It also emphasised that the country’s security and stability could be enhanced by leveraging its diversity, with the media playing a crucial role in promoting this goal.
The charge was contained in a communiqué issued by the Guild and jointly signed by its President and the General Secretary, Eze Anaba and Onuoha Ukeh, at the end of its 2025 Biennial Convention held in Enugu recently.
Themed, “Nation’s Security Future: Harnessing Diversity for Peace/Stability and the Media’s Role,” the convention charged editors and journalists to promote responsible journalism practices, stressing that the media and government should prioritise peace and inclusion, and work towards building a stronger, more united Nigeria.
According to the communique, some of the key resolutions of the convention were that security is the duty of the government and citizens; the media must promote peace, inclusion and justice by prioritising peace and stability over breaking news; security agencies and media must collaborate to promote peace and stability; media practices should promote diversity and representation as well as avoid one-sided stories and sensationalism; the media should promote dialogue and consider implications of reporting certain things; the government must see the media as a profession of patriots who have the interest of the nation at heart and that the government should equip the military and other security agencies with requisite and modern weapons needed to ensure security.
Others included that the security agencies should step up intelligence gathering and be proactive in handling security challenges; the legislature should look into laws that inhibit media practices in the spirit of democracy; the NGE should explore ways to benefit members by working with the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and Guild of Online Publishers to establish a Media Trust Fund and that the new executives should maintain the cardinal objectives of the Guild, which is preserving the standards of journalism practice, ensuring adherence to the code of ethics and defending the rights of its members.
The Guild also conducted elections, which returned Anaba as President for a second term and produced Sabastine Abu as Deputy President, Sheddy Ozoene as Vice President (East), Hamza Idris as Vice president (North), Kabir Garba as Vice President (West) and Onuoha Ukeh as the General Secretary.
Other elected officers included Gabriel Akinadewo as Assistant Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren asTreasurer, Charles Kalu as Social /Publicity Secretary, Rose Moses as Standing Committee member (West), Juliet Bumah as Standing Committee member (West), Olabisi Deji-Folutile as Standing Committee member (West), Umoru Ibrahim- Standing Committee members (North), Paulyn Ugbodaga as Standing Committee member (North), Chinedu Max Egere as Standing Committee member (East), and Ikpong Essien-Udom as Standing Committee member (East).
The Guild also commended the Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah for hosting the convention and for his developmental strides in the last two years.
