President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday tasked Nigerian media practitioners to shape public discourse in a constructive manner that strengthens the bonds that hold the nation together.
He also urged them to fulfil their responsibility as the Fourth Estate of the Realm towards nation-building and the sustenance of democracy.
This was as the President assured that his administration would consider the requests from the Guild for media tax relief and other interventions that would ensure the sustainability and vibrancy of the media.
President Tinubu, who spoke at the 21st Nigerian Guild of Editors Annual Conference (ANEC) 2025, with the theme, Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: Role of Editors, at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, commended the Nigerian Guild of Editors for the commitment of its members to sustaining democracy and national development
He said; “This conversation is necessary as we continue to build institutions that are transparent, resilient and trusted by our citizens. Throughout our history, journalism in Nigeria has been more than a profession. It has been an instrument of national awakening.
“From early newspapers that challenged colonial injustice to the principled voices that kept hope alive during the dark days of the military dictatorship,” the President said.
Tinubu also lauded the leadership of the Guild for their dedication and resilience, even in the face of daunting challenges, and charged them always to put the national interest above all other considerations.
According to the President; “We live in a time when information travels rapidly and widely. Social media has made every citizen a potential publisher. This has benefits, but it also increases the speed and scale of misinformation. Falsehood can take root before truth has time to speak. In such an environment, the editorial function is more important than ever. Verification must be your anchor; balance must be your principle, and professional judgement must be your guide.
“I urge you, therefore, to continue upholding the highest standards of journalism. Report boldly, but do so truthfully. Critique government policy, but do so with knowledge and fairness. Your aim must never be to tear down, but to help build a better society,” he said.
The President acknowledged the challenges facing the nation, especially those of terrorism and banditry, but assured the nation of the administration’s determination to return it to a state of peace, progress, and prosperity.
He also stated that the private sector, civil society, and all need to complement the media in building this climate of reason and unity.
“I ask of you, therefore, to continue to exercise that responsibility with the seriousness and honour. Let us choose clarity over confusion, responsibility over recklessness, and hope over despair. Let us remember that the stories we tell ourselves as a nation and as a people influence the country we become,” the President said.
While responding to the Guild’s request for government incentives for the media, President Tinubu assured that his administration would consider its requests, including fiscal incentives, legal protection, and policy support to enhance their duties and safeguard press freedom.
Speaking in turn, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, commended President Tinubu for his historic attendance at the annual meeting of the Guild of Editors, noting that it was the first time a sitting President had been physically present.
Idris said that the administration of President Tinubu had created an enabling environment for unfettered media practice, stressing that more than one thousand broadcasting stations were operating freely across the country.
According to Idris; “Under President Tinubu’s leadership, no media house has been threatened, gagged or shut down for expressing dissent. This reflects our conscious commitment to the constitutional principles of press freedom”.
The information minister solicited the understanding and partnership of media practitioners in crafting the right narratives about the country to promote overall national development.
In his own remarks, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba, appealed to President Tinubu to support the media industry by providing fiscal incentives, legal protection, and policy support.
Anaba commended President Tinubu for attending the conference, describing his presence as a demonstration of his administration’s recognition of the media as a strategic partner in nation-building.
He said; “Editors must defend the sanctity of truth, insist on transparency, and hold power to account — not as adversaries of government, but as constructive partners in the pursuit of national progress”.
Anaba made key requests, including corporate tax relief for media houses, VAT exemption on media inputs, tax incentives for advertisers, and access to affordable financing for news organisations.
The NGE President specifically requested the repeal of laws that restrict press freedom and also proposed the creation of a Media Development Fund to support digital innovation and newsroom transformation, to be managed by an independent board.
