Celebrating world press freedom day

• Written by  Tunde Akanbi

Alice Chasan, Editor, World Press Review declared that “without information, we grope in the dark.”  No nation can be truly free when its people lack the tools to choose a leader or assess the government and its policies in the context of the world community. A free press empowers all the people except those who have something to hide.
The third of May of every year has been declared as the World Press Freedom Day. This Day was proclaimed by the Untied Nations General Assembly in 1993 following a recommendation adopted at the twenty sixth session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991.
The day is to remember the trial and triumph of those men and women who bring us the news.  It also serves as an occasion to inform citizens of violation of press freedom.
Another importance of the day is to encourage and develop initiatives in favour of press freedom and to access the state of press freedom world wide.
 It is on record today that in the last ten years, over six hundred Journalists and media workers have been killed across the globe in the course of discharging their legitimate duties.
Journalists have suffered series of humiliations for bringing news and information to the public.
It is a statement of fact that free press is a critical tool for the positive transformation of the society as the role of the media cannot be overemphasised.
Apart from the primary role of educating, informing, enlightening and entertaining, the media remains an agent of positive change as press freedom is a non-negotiable instrument for good governance.
However, with the Freedom of Information Act now in place in Nigeria, it is believed that a lot can be achieved through the media as a free country needs a free press.
Here in Nigeria, the media practitioners are not living the celebration with playing one role or the other.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) under the leadership of Alhaji Mohammed Garba packaged series of programmes which include workshop on safety of journalists, World Press Freedom Day Celebration and a Peace Work which will involve media practitioners and the Civil Society to mark the event.
UNESCO, Abuja Office partnered with the NUJ, United States Embassy, the British High Commission and the National Library of Nigeria to celebrate the occasion. During the ceremony, visits to Ministers of Information and Justice were organised on the issue of press freedom and safety of journalists.
The global theme for 2013 is “Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in all Media”.
The theme focuses on safety of Journalists, the issue of impunity, and online safety.
The celebration also serves as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics.
Now that the President of NUJ, Mohammed Garba has assumed the position of the number one Journalist in Africa, he should ensure that charity begins at home in terms of creating a conducive environment for media practitioners in the discharge of their lawful duties.
Nigerian Journalists have suffered undue attacks, intimidation and harassment on their independence, hence the need to secure and guaranty the safety of the pen pushers through compulsory insurance cover both in public and private sectors.
The current insecurity and activities of insurgents in the country is not only frightening but also worrisome and a threat to our nation’s democracy which demands that all hands must be on deck to nip this alien trend in the bud.
In spite of all these threats to life and our corporate existence as a single and one indivisible entity, Nigerian Journalists must remain undaunted in the discharge of their duties and maintain the highest level of professional ethics, more so that journalists have chosen to remain focused in the face of the unprovoked and unwarranted attacks.
However, the Federal Government and security operatives should ensure that perpetrators of these acts of violence are brought to justice, so that the journalists will discharge their duties as the Third Estate of the Realm and the mouth piece of the oppressed without fear or favour.