“In doing your job, you have an enormous responsibility to hold government and leaders to account.

“But even as you do that, you also have to know that because of your vintage position and the critical role you play, if you don’t take care, you can also bring down society.

“While you do your work diligently, you also have to know that you are carrying on your shoulders an enormous responsibility to keep society together.

“So, the media must discern what is good information and what should be left out,” the minister said.

Idris reiterated that the responsibility of nurturing and ensuring that democracy thrives rests on the media, also known as, fourth estate of the realm.

He said President Bola Tinubu is an ardent supporter of the media and will never stand in its way or against it.

He said that the media has been flourishing under Tinubu and reassured that the administration will keep it as such.

The minister said that the President has given him a marching order to professionally carry out his job the best way he could, believing that the media is critical in nation building.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of Blueprint Newspapers, Malam Salisu Umar, said the theme was carefully chosen to address the current national priorities around economic diversification, rural revitalisation and food security.

Umar described the efforts of the founding chairman of the paper as a ‘never-say-die-spirit’ that provided oxygen that kept the paper moving in spite of the odds.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, said Nigeria’s livestock sector has what it takes to be a major contributor of national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and significant player in the global export market.

According to him, the theme of the event is not only timely, but deeply aligns with his ministry’s vision.

“The livestock has capacity to contribute significantly to food security, job creation and export earnings.

From cattle 58 million, sheep 60 million, goats 124 million, pigs 9.3 million, carmels 900,000, donkeys 410,000, poultry about 600 million, we have a lot to celebrate in this country,” Maiha stressed.

The Keynote Speaker, Prof. Attahiru Jega, also said that the livestock sector contributes an estimated seven to nine per cent of agricultural GDP.

Jega further explained that the sector provides direct and indirect livelihoods to over 20 million Nigerians.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaam Suleiman-Ibrahim, said her ministry will collaborate with the Ministry of Livestock Development on a Livestock Reform Programme for Women to empower them and move the society forward.

Also, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, said the livestock sector is important to the economy.

He praised Tinubu for establishing a stand-alone ministry for the growth of the sector.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event attracted officials from the Royal Palace of Etsu of Nupe, the Presidency, National Assembly, governments of Niger, Yobe, Kogi, captains of industry and many others.

Also in attendance were the Managing Director of NAN, Malam Ali M. Ali as well as his counterparts from Voice of Nigeria, Nigerian Television Authority, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, National Broadcasting Commission and others.

NAN also reports that high points of the event were the presentation of awards to some dignitaries for their outstanding performances in different spheres of governance, media and humanity.  (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi