HURIDAC to media: Ask political elites questions on anti-corruption - ITREALMS

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Nigerian media have been tasked to continuously ask questions on the anti-corruption plan from the political parties and their candidates in 2023 elections, reports ITREALMS.

This charge was given by the Human Rights Advancement, Development and Advocacy Centre (HURIDAC), a regional non-governmental organisation, operating in NIgeria, Sierra Leone and The Gambia since 2014, during a training for some media practitioners under the aegies of Lagos State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Tuesday in Lagos.
Speaking through its project manager at HURIDAC, Ms Mfon Enoidem during her presentation at one-day capacity-building workshop on Anti-Corruption Guideline for Media coverage of Lagos State gubernatorial and State House of Assembly Elections and launch of voters anti-corruption factsheet.

According to her, media roles at this historic time include awareness raising among voters on Anti-corruption, engagement with political parties and education of the masses.

Media, she also said, should be able to acknowledge positive steps in tackling corruption that the party or candidate has taken in past, in addition to availing easy access to the people to provide corruption information to their media house on any party or candidate.

On the significance of media around the 2023 Gubernatorial and State House of Assembly Elections, she noted that media plays significant roles in shaping the society and influencing public opinion.

She outlined some of the main ways in which the media is significant to include information dissemination, agenda setting, influencing on public opinion as well as holding those in power accountable, aside offering some entertainment to the populace.

"Overall, the media is a vital part of our society that has the power to inform, educate, entertain, and shape public opinion," she said.

Later, HURIDAC Executive Director, Mr. Ayodele Ameen in the company of the chairman, Lagos State council of NUJ, Mr. Adeleye Ajayi unveiled the voters anti-corruption factsheet.

Ameen, used the opportunity to inform Nigerians that corruption means abuse of power and should be concern of well-meaning members of the society.

In his remarks, Mr. Ajayi expressed thanks to HURIDAC for the collaboration through the capacity building. He also expressed optimism for sustaining such relationship so as to get more media practitioners well informed with knowhow on anti-corruption.