has urged reporters in both print and broadcast media to be impartial when covering all political parties.
As the Special Guest of Honour, he delivered his remarks at the three-day retreat's opening ceremony on Thursday at the Park Inn by Radisson, Kuto, Abeokuta, which was organized by the Ogun State chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists( NAWOJ).
The three-day retreat with the theme: 'Media Equal Access For Political Participation and Reporting' witnessed the presence of politicians, media practioners, academics government functionaries, among others.
Akinlade urged them to treat all political parties and candidates equally and make sure they have equal access to media coverage and exposure. He pledged to continue showing journalists the respect and support they deserve.
According to him "When reporting, pass information that is balanced, so that people can understand clearly. We will do everything to make sure that you excel. Give opportunity for the fear hearing in any situation you find yourselves.
He described the PDP governorship in the state, Oladipupo Adebutu as a media-friendly person, added that if they are voted into power in 2023, they will continue to hold the media in high esteem and as partners in making the state great.
One of the guest lecturer , Dr Goke Rauf in his lecture stressed that there's need for the Journalists in the country to go through the practice of journalism bring about political correctness in the Nigeria context regardless of their affiliation.
Rauf argued that media news contents are supposed to take the interest of all stakeholders into account for the purpose of helping the nation- building process.
His words "Media news contents are supposed to take the interests of all stakeholders into account with a view to helping the nation-building process.
"They also want to read about what is happening to the people and how governance if affecting the lives and living standard of the people."
The Chairman of the occasion, who is the Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Odusile commended the state NAWOJ for organising such programme, stressing there is need for “such initiatives to recharge our battery as journalists.”
In doing this periodically, he noted that it would give the journalists opportunity to review their performance.
Odusile advised the women journalists to be agents of change they want to see in the society through their journalism and the country at large.
He said, “Look at your role in the society as journalists and as women and then carve the kind of image of the Nigeria you want.”
Speaking earlier, the Chairperson, Ogun State NAWOJ, Mrs Modupe Sobunkola, noted that ahead 2023 general elections, it became imperative for journalists to be security-conscious and operate with sense of fairness to all political parties.
She said the state NAWOJ brought no fewer than four resource persons to talk about journalists expected role in political reportage and landmines to avoid.
She said, “As journalists, we must give equal opportunity to all political parties irrespective of the number of their membership in our reportage.
“We need to give accurate report, and be unbiased in our reports. We must be able to also relate with government in power without compromising our role as journalists.”
