15th National Waves’ annual lectures: Runsewe, Ajulo, Isiguzo, others harp on deepening Nigeria’s democracy, tourism

The Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe; Renowned lawyer, Kayode Abraham Ajulo; National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Christopher Isiguzo and other stakeholders have advocated for the sustenance of Nigeria’s democracy and the tourism sector. They spoke Thursday in Abuja, during the 15th Annual Lectures of National […]

The Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe; Renowned lawyer, Kayode Abraham Ajulo; National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Christopher Isiguzo and other stakeholders have advocated for the sustenance of Nigeria’s democracy and the tourism sector.

They spoke Thursday in Abuja, during the 15th Annual Lectures of National Waves.

Runsewe said Nigeria must do its best to grow the tourism sector as the tourism sector contributes a great deal to our international image and national development.

On his part, Isiguzo said though it is the duty of the media to hold the government accountable, as enshrined in the 1999 constitution, journalists must practice the profession responsibly as they are not immune from prosecution.

Ajulo said the judiciary has a lot of rules to play in sustaining Nigeria’s democracy, especially in upholding the rule of law, safeguarding human rights, fighting corruption, handling electoral disputes, ensuring power balance, among others, hence “it should be allowed to breathe and not unduly criticised on social media.”

Speaking earlier, Publisher/Editor-in-chief of National Waves Newspaper and Magazine, Jimmy Enyeh, said despite the harsh economic conditions, there’s a glimmer of hope in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to put Nigeria’s economy on the right footing.

“The 15th Annual Lectures of National Waves comes at a time of great national reawakening, cataclysmic changes in our political developments, which among other features have witnessed political transition of governance from one set of political actors to another.

“It’s also a period of social and economic pressures on the marginalized, voiceless, and economically dis-empowered majority of Nigerians as a result of economic meltdown.

“In spite of the seeming gloam over the harsh economic conditions, and highly contested elections which have in the past months, widened the geopolitical fault lines, security challenges and sundry national setbacks, there’s a glimmer of hope in the current administration to do the right thing, put the economy on the right footing, heal the wounds engendered by the election fallouts, and restore hope.”

Highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to different participants who distinguished themselves in different areas in the promotion of democracy and encouragement of the tourism sector.