Author: The Nation

Members of the Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON) have called on federal government to support academic research that would engender national development. President of the association, Prof. Eserinune McCarty Mojaye who spoke at the 3rd AMCRON International Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the University of Lagos, said that advanced countries of the world realise the importance of research and they deploy it on all frontiers. He noted that in the developing countries however, ‘we do not seem to accord research its pride of place in the scheme of things.’

Theme of the conference was Communication, Mass Media and Governance in Africa: Trajectories, Expectations and Realities. According to Prof. Mojaye AMCRON members are determined to change this narrative and we are committed to making research the bedrock of our development. “We therefore need support from governments and collaboration from the private and public organisations, including well-meaning individuals to achieve our goals in the areas of research and development,” he said.

Chairman of the event and the Chief Executive Officer, Troyka Holdings Limited, Biodun Shobanjo also urged communication scholars and researchers to interrogate issues militating against progress of the nation and proffer possible solutions. Shobanjo observed that ‘history has shown us that when society is in turmoil and the need to make sense of complexities, uncertainties and ambiguities that come about as a consequence of constant, unpredictable change is high, it is to scholars we must turn for the conceptual tools to navigate our way out of the abyss.’

He added that the articulation and dynamic observance of the role of the media in not only informing, educating, entertaining, but more importantly, becoming the advocate and the beacon for the enthronement of good governance is now more than called for. He however expressed worry over abuse of media rules, as well as the trend of media bullying; occurrences which he said must be addressed.

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“We are witnesses of attempts by some politicians who daily assail us in their efforts, particularly on television, to capture or intimidate on air, personalities who seek the truth from the probing questions they ask. Rather than comply, people in this category resort to blackmail, mudslinging and bullying.

“It is as if Nigerians do not have a right to know. I do not recall the Nigerian public raising their voices in defence of theses hapless journalists. And yet we, including the political class, applaud the Piers Morgans, Steven Sackurs, Christiane Amanpours, Lyse Doucets, Oprah Winfreys, and the king of them all, the Late Larry Kings, to mention a few, when they probe and call out the political class in their own climes.”

Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication, Ralph Akinfeleye who expressed happiness with the commitment of AMCRON to research for national development advocated the need for such efforts to be relevant and issue-based. He also reminded every media practitioner of the obligation to the people as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

Prof Akinfeleye picked holes in the non-justiciability of Chapter 2, Section 22 of the constitution, and therefore called out a section of the media for what he described as acts of sabotage during the last general elections.