Deputy Vice-chancellor of Paul University, Awka, Anambra state, Professor Stella Chinyere Okunna, has asked Journalists in Nigeria to remember who they are.
She gave the charge while addressing the opening ceremony of the on-going 18th edition of the All Nigerian Editors Conference in Owerri, Imo state.
Apparently refering to the power of the media, Prof. Okunna, who was the Chairperson of the opening ceremony and a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, said she was at the Conference to “remind the Editors of who they are and what they stand for.”
Okunna said, there was no other constituency that has the capacity to to package and diseminate information to make democracy work like the media.
“Press is the oxygen of democracy. It is the fourth estate of the realm,” she re-emphasised.
The University don, however, observed that the politicians forget the power of the media.
“As Gate-keepers, who are you opening your gate for? Who will you praise sing and deceive the people?” she asked the Editors.
Prof. Okunna noted that the media own society the duty to be responsible adding that the turn of Editors at the conference was an indication of their commitment to the growth of democracy in the country.
She, therefore, urged the politicians to “allow the press do their work.”
