Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigeria’s media to forge closer ties with the government, wielding their platforms for rigorous scrutiny and constructive dialogue to fortify democratic institutions.
Speaking at the launch of broadcaster Babajide Kolade-Otitoju’s memoir, My Life and Journalists Hangout, and celebration of the TVC News director’s 60th birthday, Shettima argued that societal strength hinges on challenging ideas, not just generating them.
“A society is diminished not by lack of ideas, but by the absence of men and women willing to question those ideas, test them against reason, and ask the difficult questions that shield a people from the lure of easy answers,” Shettima said.
He positioned the media as democracy’s linchpin, extending beyond elections to foster responsible governance and informed citizens.
“The measure of democracy is not confined to electoral rituals or institutional frameworks. It is equally defined by the sensibility and responsibility of the media—knowing when to probe, when to caution, when to enlighten, and when to refrain from amplifying confusion.”
Shettima cautioned against unchecked narratives, likening top-tier journalism to “a republic of conscience, not a theater of noise.”
He lauded Kolade-Otitoju for embodying intellectual rigor, crediting his programme Journalists Hangout with cultivating critical discourse in Nigeria’s media landscape.
“At 60, we celebrate not just the passage of time, but the substance of a life devoted to thought, inquiry, and public reasoning,” Shettima said.
“You have dignified your craft, elevated your platform, and contributed meaningfully to a culture of informed debate.”
Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) praised the media’s patriotic contributions to democratic values and national progress.
