Media Must Promote Economic Accountability, Constructive Engagement – FG

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Federal Government has urged the media to promote economic accountability, public understanding and constructive engagement to support Nigeria’s growth and translate the country’s resources into jobs and improved living standards.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the call at the 2026 News Agency of Nigeria and Nigerian Union of Journalists Press Week in Abuja on Wednesday .

Idris, represented by the Deputy Director of Public Communication and National Orientation, Oluwatosin Lawal, said responsible journalism was critical to helping Nigerians understand government policies and their implications for economic development.

The event, themed “Harnessing Nigeria’s Economic Potential for Greater Prosperity”, brought together government officials, economists and media professionals to discuss ways of accelerating economic growth.

Delivering the guest lecture, Dr Abdul Ibrahim of the Department of Economics, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, called for increased investment in local processing, reliable electricity and affordable credit for small businesses.

He said Nigeria was losing economic opportunities by exporting raw materials and importing finished products.

“When we export our critical raw materials, what we are simply doing is contributing to the economy of other countries and creating employment opportunities elsewhere,” Ibrahim said.

He urged the government to establish processing facilities for solid minerals and other natural resources to create jobs and retain more value within the country.

The economist identified inadequate electricity, inconsistent government policies, multiple taxation and insecurity as major obstacles to investment and economic growth.

He also called for increased investment in infrastructure, renewable energy, vocational training and affordable financing for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Ibrahim urged journalists to strengthen economic reporting, publicise investment opportunities and hold public officials accountable for budget implementation.

He identified agriculture, technology and solid minerals as sectors capable of driving growth, stressing the need for policies that would enable Nigeria to derive greater value from its resources.

He proposed a partnership among academics, journalists and the government, saying research should inform public debate, journalism should promote accountability, and the government should translate evidence-based ideas into policies.

“Prosperity is not an accident but a decision, and we must act now,” he said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said Nigeria could accelerate economic growth by harnessing its natural resources and the expertise, investments and international connections of Nigerians living abroad.

Dabiri-Erewa, represented by the commission’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said these opportunities should be converted into wealth, jobs and improved living standards.

She urged the media to promote investment, innovation and accountability, reaffirming the commission’s commitment to working with NAN to advance journalism and national development.

In her keynote address, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, described credible economic reporting as a public service.

Oduwole, represented by the Deputy Director and Head of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Augustina Okechi, said journalists had an important role in helping Nigerians understand government policies and programmes.

She urged reporters to go beyond announcing government initiatives by explaining how citizens and businesses could benefit from them.

“When we announce a financial programme, help the entrepreneur understand how to access it. When we launch a trade initiative, help the exporter understand what it means for their business. When we report investment commitments, follow the story through to completion,” she said.

The minister urged journalists to ask difficult questions, examine evidence and hold the government accountable for results.

She said economic reporting could bring opportunities to communities that might otherwise miss them, while scrutiny could expose gaps requiring government intervention.

Oduwole added that government and the public would benefit from economic discussions informed by evidence, balanced reporting and independent judgement.

She acknowledged the economic pressures facing Nigerian households and businesses, saying the challenges should guide government decisions and the urgency of its actions.

“We must translate our resources into productive industries, our talent into opportunities, our investment into jobs, and our trade relationships into tangible benefits for Nigerians,” she said.

She called for collective action by the government, private sector, development partners and media organisations to build an economy in which more Nigerians could participate and prosper.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, Prof Matthew Olumide Adepoju, called for sustained investment in space science and technology to support economic growth, national security and industrial development.

Adepoju, represented by the agency’s Director of Media and Corporate Communication, Felix Ale, said satellite technology could improve agriculture, telecommunications, healthcare, transportation and environmental management.

He also called for stronger collaboration between scientific institutions and the media to improve public understanding of space technology.

The Editor-in-Chief of NAN, Hajiya Hadiza Aliyu, who represented the Managing Director, Mallam Ali M. Ali, described the press week as an opportunity for professional development and engagement on national issues.

She urged journalists to broaden their knowledge of different sectors to improve the quality of their reporting.

In a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Mrs Grace Ike, represented by Henry Abimike, said the event provided an opportunity for journalists to strengthen professional relationships.

Earlier, the Chairman of the NAN NUJ Headquarters Chapel, Collins Yakubu Hammer, said Nigeria’s natural resources, youthful population and entrepreneurial spirit offered significant opportunities for economic growth.

He urged journalists to uphold professionalism, integrity and objectivity while promoting constructive policy dialogue and holding institutions accountable.

Hammer disclosed that the chapel began the press week with a visit to an orphanage in Farmagidi, where members donated food, toiletries and other consumables.

He added that the programme would include a fitness walk on Friday to promote journalists’ well-being.