CDS CALLS FOR IMPROVED MILITARY-MEDIA PARLEYS AS DHQ HONOURS VETERANS
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor has called on Nigeria media practitioners to form and maintain a more formidable alliance with the Armed Forces in order to build public trust and confidence in military operations in the country.
General Irabor stated this at a one-day parley with Nigeria Media Executives, Editors and Bureau Chiefs from accross selected media organisations in Abuja, on Wednesday. He noted that the media is a vital component needed for the socio-economic advancement of societies. He urged media practitioners to continue to set the right agenda for public discourse, while noting that media practitioners also have a responsibility to keep Nigeria safe from internal rancour and misinformation.
"I believe that as we further interact, we would be able to dissect the nuisances involved in advancing the course of military/media relations", he said.
Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Jimmy Akpor added that the parley is a brainchild of the CDS. He said it is an integral part of the non-kinetic strategies geared towards freeing the country from the shackles of insecurity. He also said interactions with the media executives, bureau chiefs and editors was necessary to project positive perception of military operations and engagements to the public.
He said: "It is the perception of the Armed Forces that the media projects, nurtures or reinforces that would be engraved in the hearts and minds of the people. This would further determine the level of public support the military would get in executing assigned missions.”
The Military also used the occasion to honour some media veterans for their sterling records while covering the defence and security beats. Those honoured include: Chris Agbambu, Mr Femi Kusa, Mr Ben Okezie, Mr Muhammad Abdulkadir and Mrs Muslima Solebo.
The late Mr Ladi Lawal, late Mr Suleiman Gambari and late Mr Joseph Oroye were also posthumously awarded. Some participants noted that the engagements opened what they described as a new vista for sustainable collaboration between the AFN and the media, in terms of efficiently managing national security.
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