The wife of Ogun State governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, has urged journalists to be more dedicated to upholding the sanctity of truth in their reportage, saying that “it could be tough and very depressing to be victims of fake news or falsehoods”.
Abiodun disclosed this on Thursday while speaking during the beauty pageant organised as part of various activities to mark the Press Week of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council. The beauty contest was held at Ogun NUJ Secretariat, Iwe Iroyin, Ibara, Abeokuta. The NUJ Press Week has as its theme “Nexus Between Modern and Traditional Media in Promoting Democracy and Good Governance”.
While appreciating the daily role of the journalists in gathering and disseminating information, the First Lady said they must, however, carry this great task out with all sense of responsibility by ensuring that they verify their facts before putting the same out for public consumption.
Abiodun said, “There is no doubt that Journalists are doing a great job to ensure we are all well informed, but there is a need to always verify our reports before releasing such to the public. You won’t always like it if falsehood is woven around you. My family has been at the receiving end of this fake news before, and I must say that it was tough. Nobody liked it. So, we must always do our checks properly to ensure that we are really informing and not misinforming the populace”.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of NUJ, Ogun State Council, Wale Olanrewaju, lauded the First Lady for being a mother indeed for the residents of the state, thanking her for using her pet project, Ajose Foundation, for providing succour for the people of the state.
Comr Olanrewaju described Gov Dapo Abiodun as a pillar of support for the Journalists in the state, saying that the media practitioners are, however, hopeful that the governor will assist as he had earlier promised in developing the permanent site of the union at Abiola Way, Abeokuta.
At the end of the contest, Bunmi Mustapha, representing the Correspondents’ Chapel, emerged as the New Face of Ogun NUJ, Bolaji Sampson from Ogun State Television came second, while Gift Oba Ejro came third.
Other dignitaries at the event were the wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Aderinola Talabi, the wife of the Speaker, Mrs Bolanle Oluomo, as well as Commissioner for Women Affairs, Adijat Adeleye-Oladapo.
