ILLORIN/Nigeria: The Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) has reiterated the importance of adhering to legal and ethical standards for professional communicators, government spokespersons, and journalists in the country. Speaking at the ACSPN empowerment series in Kwara State, the association stressed the need for practitioners to maintain high ethical standards by disseminating verified facts and credible information.
During the series held at Thomas Adewumi University, Oko, guest speaker Dr. Abdulraheem Mahmud emphasized the necessity of being guided by defamation laws and regulations against cyberbullying and cyberstalking. Dr. Mahmud, a former General Manager of Kwara Broadcasting Service, highlighted the detrimental impact of citizen journalism on ethical principles, noting the prevalence of fake news and libelous content on social media.
Addressing participants, Dr. Mahmud urged government spokespersons and journalists to uphold journalistic integrity and avoid unethical practices. He cautioned against using offensive language and emphasized the importance of civil discourse in public communications.
Professor Adesina Azeez, a former head of the Mass Communication department at the University of Ilorin, underscored the need for communicators to remain impartial and address issues objectively. He noted the temptation some journalists and government spokespersons face to compromise standards and join in contentious issues.
The Vice-Chancellor of Thomas Adewumi University, Prof. Francisca Oladipo, expressed gratitude to ACSPN for hosting the empowerment series at the university, describing the event as a significant privilege.
Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, CEO of Delta State Orientation and Communication Bureau, highlighted Delta State’s commitment to capacity-building workshops for government spokespersons and media professionals. He announced plans to share insights from the ACSPN series at the upcoming Delcom workshop in Asaba and praised Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for his investments in infrastructure and human capacity development.
Dr. Oghenesivbe also revealed that the State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Michael Ifeanyi Osuoza, is leading efforts to upgrade Delta Broadcasting Service and the Pointer Newspaper, ensuring state-owned media can compete with private counterparts.
The ACSPN capacity-building series, which concluded on Thursday, saw attendance from mass communication and journalism professors, government spokespersons, and communication professionals from across Nigeria. Dr. Wilfred Latimore Oghenesivbe, Governor Oborevwori’s Chief Communication Strategist, will attend the ACSPN annual conference in Lagos this September.
