The Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council, Comrade Bunmi Adigun, has charged media practitioners to uphold truth, accuracy and professional responsibility in reporting the affairs and development of Ogun State.
Adigun gave the charge on Saturday while speaking as a guest speaker at the official launch of Ogun 360, a digital media platform established to provide comprehensive information on Ogun State under the tagline, “Everything Ogun, All in One Place.”
He said the media had a crucial role to play in shaping public perception of Ogun State, stressing that journalists must report the state’s achievements, challenges and opportunities with fairness and credibility.
According to him, Ogun has a rich story to tell in areas including industrialisation, agriculture, education, culture, innovation and human capital development, adding that these stories should be properly documented and projected to audiences within and outside the state.
Adigun, who is also a staff member of Ogun State Television (OGTV), said journalism was not limited to reporting daily events, but also involved documenting history, interrogating policies, giving voice to the voiceless and providing citizens with information required to make informed decisions.
Reflecting on his 18 years of experience in broadcasting and official assignments to 13 countries, including his coverage of a former governor, the NUJ secretary said effective storytelling could help present the achievements and potential of a state to the wider world.
He urged the management of Ogun 360 to maintain strict adherence to verification, accuracy and credibility, warning that the desire to promote Ogun must not come at the expense of professional journalism.
Adigun also called for greater media attention to individuals and institutions contributing to the development of the state outside government and politics.
He identified entrepreneurs, farmers, students, artisans, innovators, traditional institutions, artists and athletes among those whose achievements deserved greater visibility.
He said the emergence of digital media provided Ogun 360 with an opportunity to become more than a news platform, but also a digital archive preserving the history, culture, people, opportunities and achievements of Ogun State for future generations.
The NUJ secretary further called for collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, journalists and members of the public to build a stronger information ecosystem for the state.
He said credible information about Ogun was important not only to residents, but also to investors, tourists, researchers, students and Nigerians in the diaspora seeking to understand the state and explore its opportunities.
Adigun congratulated the founders and management of Ogun 360, urging them to remain committed to professionalism, fairness, innovation and responsible journalism.
He said, “When we tell the Ogun story well, we are not merely reporting the present. We are documenting history, shaping perception and helping to define the future of our state.”
He added, “Tell the stories that matter. Give voice to the voiceless. Celebrate excellence. Ask the difficult questions. Promote opportunities. Preserve our heritage. And above all, protect the credibility of the Ogun story.”
Adigun expressed optimism that Ogun 360 would grow from a digital media platform into a trusted information institution and become a major destination for people seeking credible information about Ogun State.
