By Atlantic Reports

Alhaji Raheem Adedoyin, Africa’s representative on the Executive Board of the International Press Institute (IPI), has urged Nigerian journalists to strengthen democracy by holding public officials accountable through fair, rigorous and responsible reporting.

Adedoyin made the call on Saturday in a virtual address at the inauguration of the Kwara chapter of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN).

Speaking on “Journalism, Communication and the Imperatives of Good Governance”, the veteran journalist and former Kwara Commissioner for Information said the press had a responsibility to examine how government decisions affected the public.

He pointed to Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution as the basis for the media’s constitutional responsibility to promote government accountability.

Adedoyin said journalists must strengthen good governance through balanced reporting that supports democratic participation and subjects public authority to scrutiny.

He argued that investigating wrongdoing and exposing misconduct were essential public-interest duties, while cautioning against treating journalism as institutional opposition to government.

“Where government performs well, our reportage must reflect this, but where government fails, journalism must also expose the failure of the state,” he said.

His position placed fairness and professional judgement at the centre of accountability reporting, requiring journalists to recognise demonstrable achievements while examining failures, policy shortcomings and misconduct.

Adedoyin said a free, fearless and professionally responsible press remained essential to protecting citizens’ interests and strengthening public confidence in governance.

He also described effective communication as necessary for connecting government policies and programmes with people’s needs and expectations.

“While governance is the art of translating public authority into public good, communication is the bridge that connects the two,” he said.

The Chairman of ACSPN in Kwara, Prof. Rasaq Adisa, said the association planned to develop the presentation into a workshop where communication scholars and professionals would examine the issues raised and propose recommendations.

“You have set an agenda, and we shall turn it to a workshop where scholars will debate it then come up with a communique,” Adisa said.

The proposed workshop would extend the discussion from the responsibilities of individual journalists to ways of improving media practice and its contribution to accountable governance.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.