The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, has charged journalists in the country to always disseminate factual and objective information to the public.
Sunday Dare gave the charge in Ibadan at the ongoing Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Oyo State Chapter, annual week celebration.
The minister, who was hounoured with an award of excellence at the programme, urged journalists to always conduct thorough investigation and shun bias in their reportage.
According to him, the essence of journalism was to reach the general public with useful, important and educative information.
‘I want to seize this moment to appreciate all your efforts in the media. I want to urge you to disseminate information to the public objectively.
“Please try to be objective as you can, because objectivity will serve you well and earn you respect anytime people meets you,” Dare said.
The minister said that journalism brought him to limelight and laid the foundation for what he is doing presently.
“Each time I’m being called upon by the pen pushers, writers, the media practitioners and members of the fourth estate of the realm, I have no other choice but to yield to their call,” he said.
Dare appreciated the honour conferred on him by the Alebiosu-led SWAN in Oyo State, pledging to support the association in any capacity.
“I commend your leadership that has been keeping in touch with me to make me part of this event.
“You have really done well. Oyo SWAN is not just a body, but an organization with integrity, ” he said.
Also speaking at the event was Mr Niyi Alebiosu, the State SWAN Chairman, who appreciated the minister for identifying with sports writers in the state.
Alebiosu lauded the initiative of the minister in ensuring the renovations of key federal government owned stadia, starting with the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja,
He appealed to the minister to also renovate Nigeria’s first modern stadium, the Obafemi Awolowo stadium in Ibadan (formerly Liberty Stadium).
“On behalf of the sports loving people of Oyo State, I want to appeal to you sir, to renovate and if possible upgrade the Obafemi Awolowo stadium here in Ibadan.
“This stadium is historic and too important to be left to rot. This stadium had hosted major historical landmark sports events.
“In actual fact, the history of sports in Nigeria won’t be complete without reference to the roles played by this Stadium,” he said.