Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for stronger collaboration between the media and government, urging journalists to embrace constructive engagement and critical thinking to deepen Nigeria’s democracy.
Shettima made the call at the public presentation of “My Life and Journalists Hangout” and the 60th birthday celebration of veteran broadcaster Babajide Kolade-Otitoju in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the Vice President emphasised that the strength of any democracy depends significantly on the vigilance and responsibility of the media.
“A society is destroyed not by the absence of ideas but by the absence of men and women with the courage to interrogate ideas,” he said, stressing the need for journalists to ask critical questions that safeguard public interest.
According to him, democracy goes beyond elections and institutions, noting that the media plays a central role in shaping public consciousness and national discourse.
“The measure of every democracy is not in the rituals of elections alone or the architecture of institutions. It is also in the sensibility and sensitivity of the media,” Shettima added.
He cautioned against the dangers of unchecked narratives, warning that they could erode truth, weaken institutions, and make the media “an accomplice to confusion.”
The Vice President also paid glowing tribute to Kolade-Otitoju, describing him as a symbol of “democratic courage” whose career has been defined by integrity, intellectual rigour, and commitment to accountability, particularly through his television programme Journalists’ Hangout.
“To spend decades in the service of journalism with integrity intact, with relevance undiminished, and with intellectual energy still alive, is a rare accomplishment,” he said.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, commended the media for its patriotic role in promoting democracy and national development.
In his review of the book, Kyari Mohammed described the work as a detailed account of Kolade-Otitoju’s journey across print and broadcast journalism, recommending it to policymakers and practitioners.
Former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Danladi Bako, also hailed the celebrant as a courageous professional.
Tributes poured in from notable figures including presidential spokesman Sunday Dare, broadcaster Gbenga Aruleba, and Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, all of whom highlighted Kolade-Otitoju’s contributions to journalism and democratic development.
Dignitaries at the event included Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele; Governors Umo Eno, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Agbu Kefas, Usman Ahmed Ododo, and Babagana Zulum, as well as Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila and former Attorney-General of the Federation Mohammed Adoke.
The event underscored the enduring role of journalism in shaping democratic values, as stakeholders celebrated a media icon whose career continues to influence public discourse in Nigeria.
