The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has called on journalism veterans and professional bodies to work together to restore ethical standards, professionalism and dignity to journalism in Nigeria.
Dabiri-Erewa made the call in response to Mr Livinus Chibuike Victor, acknowledging his concerns over the challenges confronting journalism practice in the country but describing his demand for an apology as misplaced and irrelevant.
In a statement signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols at NiDCOM, Abuja, Dabiri-Erewa urged Victor to collaborate with experienced journalists and other stakeholders to address the declining professional standards rather than seek an apology she said he would not receive.
She maintained that the erosion of professional standards in journalism was evident and required collective action from practitioners and relevant institutions.
Dabiri-Erewa recalled that during her tenure in the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2015, when she chaired the House Committee on Media, she championed the introduction of the Journalism Enhancement Bill in 2010.
She said the proposed legislation was designed to establish standards that would improve journalism practice and strengthen its professional standing.
The NiDCOM boss argued that, unlike professions such as medicine, law and accountancy, journalism lacked comparable entry requirements to ensure that practitioners possessed the necessary training and certification.
She regretted that the initiative faced resistance from those who should have supported it, adding that the failure to establish such standards had contributed to the declining dignity of the profession.
Dabiri-Erewa expressed appreciation for the role journalism played in her professional development, recalling the training and mentorship she received from lecturers in the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos.
She said she remained willing to join Victor and other concerned veterans in addressing the challenges confronting journalism practice in Nigeria.
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She also called on the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Guild of Editors, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and other media stakeholders to take proactive steps to protect the integrity of the profession.
The NiDCOM chief urged the relevant bodies not to remain passive while professional standards continued to decline.
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