WORKING PAPER



OF




NIGERIAN YOUTH-MEDIA FORUM

















BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Young people ages 18 to 35 are over higher percentage of total population of Nigerian citizenry. Many of them are already making earnest contribution to their self-development whereby harnessing government contribution for national development, this initiative should be further published, acknowledged and strengthened.

Increasingly, youth are recognized as key pointers to any nation growth, decision-making and development, as reflected in the out growing presence of youth-serving NGOs, Social clubs and youth-led community driven initiatives in Nigerian. However, building capacity of and creating sustainable partnership with young people, government allies and stakeholders in youth development are crucial.

There is a process to be engage and that is “Youth-Media partnership.” The concept of Youth-Media is very unpopular to Nigeria media and society at large. Media as a sociological phenomenon which has contributed immensely to youth and socio-economic development of any nation should be engaged.

The term “media” is used to refer to all forms of written, spoken and printed communications. The mass media however, is used to refer to those forms of the media that are designed to reach a very large audience. The media exists to educate, inform, and entertain. There is a diverse range of types of media which are produced in a wide range of different languages. Types of media include print media such as newspaper and magazine; electronic media such as radio, television and the internet as well as traditional forms such as drama, music, dance and community theatre.

The degree of independence and accessible of the media varies between countries, in this context the mass media have a powerful influence on our Young people; over how and what they think act and shape their perceptions about particular issues and influence on issues are perceived to be important in contributing to their self development and national growth, therefore media has the power to affect them by harnessing their existing mechanisms for participation in development policy.

In line with the above literature, there is an urgent need to make Youth-Media partnership more popular in Nigeria by engaging the media to showcase what the Nigerian youths are doing in and outside the continent as it currently exist in, developed countries which youth are directly involved and affected by the development process through media and to provide “Active participation” of all stakeholders in the process of youth development.

THE ROLE OF MEDIA IN DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA.

Governance of a state implies the ways through which citizens and
groups in a society voice their interest, meditate their differences
and exercise legal rights and obligations. One of such means of
governance is democracy which is a government by all the people
usually through elected representatives, as such, democracy must be
build on Nationality Unity peace and stability.

Of all other aspect of democracy and good governance in Nigeria, the
role of media either through print and electronic means cannot be
side-lined. This is because, good governance is facilitated by
strong and independent media in the society, as the media allows for
ongoing checks and assessment by the population thereby providing a
platform for discussion. Freedom of media also allows for public
debates and view points as well as increasing citizens awareness
about their rights and privileges.

Although the 1999 constitution of Nigeria allows for right of press
freedom of expressions, it should be noted that with the advent of
democratic dispensation, most media houses have failed in
disseminating vital news because practicing journalists are exposed
to frequent threats, harassments, bribe even at times paying the
ultimate price with their lives. One example of such threat was the
case of `Haruna Achenje', State correspondent of Punch Newspaper who
was who was ordered to leave Akwa-Ibom state on August 2003 because
of an article about the State House of Assembly which members
claimed false.

Besides, the government has a key role in promoting democracy
through protection of media independence, during critical moments
such as transparency, anti-corruption and accountability, of which
corruption is the hardest issues democracy has to face in the
governing process to ensure best life for the citizens.
Typical of such is the cases of two impeached former
governors `D.S.P.Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa State and Peter Fayose of
Ekiti State' respectively .The media was biased in reporting the
truth of the matters because of the risk involved – threats or even
death. The media therefore needs to take a firm stand for this, in
ensuring good governance in Nigeria by reporting the exact
happenings of events.

In the light of this, it could be noted that media is an important
yardstick in promoting good governance in Nigeria, hence, positive
expression of an open relationship between the media and political
power holders should included. Media protection is needed; in line
with this judiciary need to be reform, so that freedom of
expression, access to information, support for news agencies and
less restriction on journalistic activities, bearing in mind that,
the rise of twenty four hours rolling news stations and the internet
has made media bigger, faster and more powerful than before.

The media can act as a force against corruption in ways that are
tangible to promote good democracy in Nigeria. The tangible, readily
identifiable, ways in which the news media perform this function
include those in which some sort of visible outcome can be
attributed to a particular news story or series of stories —for
instance, the launching of investigation by authorities, the
scrapping of a law or policy that fosters a climate ripe with
opportunities for corruption, the impeachment or forced resignation
of a crooked politician, the firing of an official, the launching of
judicial proceedings, the issuing of public recommendations by a
watchdog body, and so on.

I strongly belief that since media plays a vital role in sustaining
democracy , there is a need to promote media participation as a
mechanism for sustaining democracy and good governance in Nigeria
as a good mediator and promoter of transparency in the nation
building.

BY : OLUMAYOWA .A.ADENIRAN