Rafiu Ajakaye, the chief press secretary to the Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has enjoined Nigerian journalists to protect the nation image at global level and de-emphasise negative happenings in the country.
The CPS, gave the admonition while delivering his key note address on the topic “the Media and Nigeria’s soft power conundrum” at the Annual Press Week of the Correspondents’ Chapel of NUJ, Kwara State Council held in Ilorin the state capital.
“Some countries have succeeded in projecting themselves as tourist havens, tax haven, bastion of democracy and human rights, destination for world-class education, friendliest business place, humanitarian support, the hub of technology, entertainment, beautiful culture and arts, best place for talent grooming, military prowess, or invincible security network.
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“This outlook, or how we perceive them, has helped them to shape global opinion around them and anything concerning them. With it they get things done.
“What we call ourselves is how and what others will call us. Please let us endeavour to give ourselves and our country good names at all times. We owe it a duty and responsibility to ourselves and our children to stand by this country that has given us so much.
” I am neither asking the media to abandon its noble roles of being the watchdog of our society nor saying it should renege its duty as the fourth estate of the realm. I appeal that we also de-emphasise negative profiling of our country. I ask that we filter out to the global audience every little downsides of our society”, he said.
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