Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has assured that the Commission runs an open house to its media stakeholders, who are, therefore, encouraged to always seek clarifications on issues from the Commission before publishing.
Danbatta stated this in a speech, read on his behalf by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, the Director of Public Affairs, NCC, during the virtual meeting the Commission held with its online media partners on Wednesday, August 12, 2020.
“We also urge you, to always contact the Commission for necessary clarifications, to ensure accurate and adequate reporting of the industry, as the NCC runs an Open House to our media stakeholders”, Danbatta stated.
Danbatta stated that the Commission sees the online media partners as major contributors to the Commission’s success.
“We see you, as a major part of our success and will like to appreciate your contributions, timely and accurate dissemination of news and information, regarding our regulatory activities, as a telecoms industry regulator” Danbatta stressed.
He used the opportunity of the meeting to request for the continued support of the online media publishers, in communicating the activities of the Commission the public.
“Let me use this opportunity to solicit your continuous support, in the area of enlightening the general public, on the various consumer-centric regulatory initiatives of the Commission”, Danbatta requested.
Danbatta commended the online media publishers for their timely reportage of events as they occur, in real time, but cautioned them on the need to balance the speed with which they publish with accuracy and integrity, to avoid misinforming the public.
“One of the many benefits of what you do, as an online journalist is, the real-time dissemination of information and the immediacy it involves.
The availability of online news, 24/7 and its accessibility and availability to consumers, make your work very important”, Danbatta noted.
“You are, therefore, constantly faced with the challenge of, not only reporting events, real-time, sometimes, but balancing that need for speed, with the accuracy and integrity demanded by your profession”, observed.
Ending his speech, Danbatta stated the resolve of the Commission, in advancing the digital economy agenda of the current administration, while carrying the press and Nigerians along.
“Let me reiterate the Commission’s resolve, in ensuring that Nigerians are enlightened and carried along on the Commission’s journey, to advance the digital economy agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari and you, the members of the 4th Estate of the realm, are indeed critical stakeholders on this journey”, danbatta concluded.
The virtual meeting the Commission held with its online media partners, was to familiarise them with Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, who assumed duty as the new Director, Public Affairs, NCC, on June 23, 2020, to replace Dr. Henry Nkemadu, who has since moved to the Research and Development, NCC, as Director.
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