VICE-PRESIDENT Kashim Shettima, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, Minister of Budget & Economic Planning, Atiku Abubakar Bagudu; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dele Kelvin Oye, will lead conversation on economy and security, as the 20th edition of All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) starts on Wednesday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
In a statement on Sunday and signed by the President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba and the General Secretary, Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the professional body of editors/media executives, said that the Chairman/Editor-In-Chief, THISDAY/Arise Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, will chair the conference.
‘’Former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba; Founder/Publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, Uncle Sam Amuka; Publisher, BusinessDay, Frank Aigbogun; Senior Vice Chairman/Editor-In-Chief, LEADERSHIP Newspaper Group, Azu Ishiekwene and other media experts will be speaking on strategies for viable/sustainable media financing, opportunities and challenges in Al-generated storytelling, and other emerging issues in global journalism practice’’, the NGE added.
The Guild further explained that some critical institutions – in private/public, and Non-Governmental Organisations will also be making presentations at the annual conference scheduled for November 7-9.
Giving background to this year’s ANEC, which will attract over 350 editors and media executives across the country, the NGE explained that since the present government came on board on May 29, 2023, its agents had consistently argued that the federal government had been pursuing audacious reforms to reconstruct macro-economic situations it met on ground, for stability and development.
According to the editors, ‘’Their argument is that the petrol fiscal subsidy was moderately jettisoned initially, and foreign exchange reforms had led to the unification of the markets and a market-reflective exchange rate.
‘’They have also argued that in order to assuage the inflationary effects of these reforms on the most vulnerable, the government had been implementing temporary cash transfers to reach over 15 million households, with efforts also being made to tighten monetary policy and refocus the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on its core mandate of maintaining price stability.
‘’However, in spite of these efforts by the federal government and having the largest economy and population in Africa, many experts say that Nigeria offers limited opportunities to most of its citizens, especially as Nigeria is currently ranked the 7th lowest human capital index in the world, and weak job creation while many workers choose to emigrate in search of better opportunities.’’
Justifying the conference’s theme, ‘’Economic Growth and Development Strategies in Resource-Rich Country’’, the NGE said while the poverty rate is put at about 40 % – with an estimated 88 million Nigerians living below the poverty line – the exchange rate, inflation and swelling energy prices remain huge concerns to many Nigerians and global community.
‘’To address these economic challenges and achieve development, there is a near consensus among all stakeholders that Nigeria needs to push for a wide-ranging and comprehensible set of policies and strategies that will address both the short-term and long-term issues’’, the NGE added.
On media viability and sustainability, the professional body of editors stated that there is a growing view that media stakeholders should come out with mechanisms to support the media industry – for individual publishers and the sector as a whole, by ensuring they receive fair compensation for the use of their intellectual property and content.
According to the statement, ‘’The argument is that mechanisms should adjust to evolving market conditions and boost the likelihood that publishers can build diverse revenue streams.
‘’It is within this context that this year’s ANEC will focus on strategies and policies aimed at addressing the challenges of the nation’s economy and the media space. Key experts, actors and players – from various sectors – will be invited to start conversation on the best possible way out of these challenges.’’
The annual conference, which was initiated in 2004, will also witness the induction of 12 new editors.