President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged media practitioners across Nigeria to uphold their duty as the Fourth Estate of the Realm by promoting responsible journalism that strengthens national unity and deepens democracy.

Speaking at the 21st Nigerian Guild of Editors Annual Conference (ANEC) 2025 held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, President Tinubu emphasized that the media plays a vital role in shaping public discourse and national cohesion. He assured that his administration would consider the Guild’s requests for media tax relief and other support measures aimed at ensuring sustainability in the industry.

“This conversation is necessary as we continue to build institutions that are transparent, resilient and trusted by our citizens,” the President said. “Journalism in Nigeria has always been more than a profession, it has been an instrument of national awakening, from early newspapers that challenged colonial injustice to the voices that kept hope alive during military rule.”

Acknowledging the challenges of misinformation in the digital age, the President urged editors to uphold truth, balance and professional judgement as guiding principles. “Report boldly, but do so truthfully. Critique government policy, but do so with knowledge and fairness. Your aim must never be to tear down, but to help build a better society,” he stated.

President Tinubu also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to peace, security and prosperity, calling for collaboration between the media, civil society and the private sector to strengthen national unity. He assured that his government would review the Guild’s proposals for fiscal incentives, legal protection and policy reforms to support press freedom and sustainability.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, commended the President for attending the conference, the first time a sitting President has done so. He noted that under President Tinubu’s leadership, no media organisation has been threatened or shut down for expressing dissent, underscoring the administration’s respect for press freedom.

Also speaking, the Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Senator Hope Uzodimma, called on editors to play a responsible role in promoting electoral integrity and national cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections. “Without electoral integrity, there can be no democracy,” he said, warning that editorial choices have real consequences for public trust and national stability.

In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba, thanked President Tinubu for his presence and urged government support for the media industry through fiscal and policy incentives. He reaffirmed the Guild’s commitment to truth, transparency and fairness, stating that editors must serve as constructive partners in the pursuit of national progress.