Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris has urged the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to support the government as it prepares to unveil the groundbreaking Charter on Citizen Code, designed to define and uphold the core values that unite Nigerians while taking into account the nation’s socio-cultural diversities.
He stated this in Lagos on Thursday night at the 2nd NUJ Milestone Recognition of Media Icons in Nigeria.
He said the Charter, which would be unveiled early next year by President Bola Tinubu, would seek to entrench in all Nigerians a balanced understanding of their rights and responsibilities as citizens of the greatest black nation on earth.
The minister, who was represented on the occasion by the Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Dr. Mohammed Bulama, added that the Charter will consist of a Nigerian promise and citizen codes, defining our core values as Nigerians, while taking into full account our ethnic, cultural, and linguistic diversities.
“Just yesterday, I put together a committee of renowned experts to work on and finalise a Values Charter for Nigeria, in line with President
Tinubu’s desire for true and sustained reorientation of national values and attitudes.
“This new Charter will seek to entrench in all Nigerians a balanced understanding of our rights, as well as our responsibilities as citizens of the greatest black nation on earth.
“This committee has two weeks to submit its final report, and your support as the media will make a huge difference in terms of this assignment. Without you, we will not succeed in this vital mission,” he said.
He hailed the NUJ leadership for nurturing the idea of recognising the invaluable contributions of the pacesetters and icons of the media profession to the development of the country.
“I am also grateful for the honour extended to me to be the chairman of this year’s edition, presiding over the recognition of industry ‘greats’ like Mr. Ray Ekpu, Chief Henry Odukomaiya, Dr. Danladi Bako and Aremo Taiwo Alimi.
“None of them needs any introduction in this esteemed profession of ours, the 4th Estate of the Realm. These are true icons, pioneers, achievers, record-setters and record-breakers, who have not only made their mark in the industry but also raised generations of successful professionals,” he stated.
