Help! Nigerians deserve a better image
Senator Musiliu Olatunde Obanikoro, Nigeria's High Commissioner to Ghana, was Saturday morning all-pleading, albeit passionately, for Ghana's media to paint a more realistic perception of Nigeria and Nigerians.
He is saddened that the impression often created of Nigerians residing in Ghana “often smacks of hatred, intolerance and perhaps, vendetta.”
Acknowledging the indispensability of the media in fostering a thriving and promising bilateral relationship between Ghana and Nigeria and other countries in the sub-region, Obanikoro said the entire African continent is confronted by development challenges, and it would be unfortunate for her people to expend their energies contending with such mundane issues.
The High Commissioner, guest speaker at the third congregation of the Ghana Institute of Journalism in Accra, said Ghana and Nigeria share common bonds predating independence and that “We need not kill our friendship but help strengthen it in such a way that would be beneficial to all.
“I am therefore appealing to the Ghanaian media to change their perception about Nigeria and Nigerians. This is one area I have been working on since I reported here on my posting. There is a lot of misconception about Nigerians which without doubts, is also a function of the media.”
Noting that the observation is not significantly entrenched, he said it is a trend that is subtly brewing and the earlier the tide is stopped, the better for both countries.
Senator Obanikoro also challenged the media to foster regional integration, stressing that it is a function the media must take very seriously and pursue with all the needed vigour.
“Understandably, if we must grow our economy, spread wealth and reduce the poverty level that presently prevails, the time is now for regional integration to assume the centre stage in this part of the world. I will give you an example. In January 1993, when the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was ratified, little did they envisage the impact it would have on the sub-region. Trading activities jumped from $17 billion in 1993 to $16 trillion in 2000, thus creating new wealth which in turn spread prosperity with attainable reduction in poverty.”
Senator Obanikoro was full of praise for the Ghana Institute of Journalism as one of the strategic institutions in Ghana on the account of its huge role in providing an opportunity for aspiring communication professionals who constitute our democratically indispensible "fourth Realm" of the state and in maintaining high discipline and professionalism in what he said was “five good decades of active, patriotic and promising journalism.”
He further acknowledged the fortitude of the Ghanaian media, and explained that a major development that showcased the strength of journalism practice in Ghana was the 2008 general election.
“I have chosen to place emphasis on this instance because, one, I need not waste our precious time by over-flogging the known. Two, that singular incident was a major exploit in the life of this great nation. In fact, the way I see it, but for the media here, the story would have been something else. We all know what I am driving at. The media stood by their country and did that which was fair, just and commendable before the international community.”
The congregation coincided with the 50th anniversary celebration of the institute under the theme; GIJ, 50 years of Defining Africa's Communication Agenda and saw 157 students graduating after they successfully completed a two-year diploma programme in Communication Studies. Of the number, one hundred and one were women.
Master Johnson Kukubor Noble Kwabla took home two laptop computers and sets of books for emerging the overall best student and also the best professional student.