The 2015 biennial convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors held in Lagos on Saturday with the high point being the election of officers of the guild.
Declaring the convention open, Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Fashola, represented by the Commissioner for Information, Aderemi Ibirogba tasked the guild to seek how to sustain public attention on those issues of national interest. Governor Fashola said the media must insist on ensuring that corruption is eliminated from the fabrics of the nation through sustained writing and discussions.
Vice President elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo delivered a goodwill message on behalf of the President elect, Muhammadu Buhari where he invited the media to continue with its role of watchdogs in the society.
“The incoming administration would like the press to continue its role of watchmen and women, aggregating the views and positions of the people on national issues and presenting these as lucidly as possible through publication and other channels to the government to guide it in the onerous task of providing good governance for our people.”
As the elections began, it was announced that apart from the office of the secretary and standing committee, all others were returned un-opposed.
Femi Adesina, who has served in the office of President of the guild for two years is returned to begin his second term.
Victoria Ibanga defeated Mustapha Isah to become the general secretary of the guild.
Under the first term of Femi Adesina who is also the Executive Director (Publication) of Sun Newspapers, as President, Nigerian Guild of Editors took steps to rebrand the journalism profession with special focus on the roles of Editors. The guild is planning to build a secretariat in either Lagos or Abuja and has set aside over N200m for that project.
