Shettima, NSA Ribadu, Obaigbena, Others Set To Tackle Nigeria’s Economy, Media Challenges at ANEC

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The upcoming All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) is set to convene leading voices from government, business, and media sectors to address Nigeria’s economic and security challenges, as well as to explore strategies for media sustainability.

The conference, which marks the 20th edition of ANEC, will be held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, from November 7–9.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu are among the notable figures leading discussions on Nigeria’s economic growth and security landscape.

The event will also feature presentations by prominent media veterans, including the Chairman of THISDAY/Arise Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba; and Vanguard Publisher Sam Amuka.

In a statement released by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) on Sunday, the Guild said, “To address these economic challenges and achieve development, there is a near consensus among all stakeholders that Nigeria needs to push for a wide-ranging and comprehensible set of policies and strategies that will address both the short-term and long-term issues.”

The NGE noted that the theme of this year’s event, “Economic Growth and Development Strategies in Resource-Rich Country,” was selected to reflect the pressing need for comprehensive development in a nation struggling with high inflation and low human capital investment.

The NGE statement acknowledged the federal government’s recent reform efforts, stating, “Their argument is that the petrol fiscal subsidy was moderately jettisoned initially, and foreign exchange reforms had led to the unification of the markets and a market-reflective exchange rate.”

It also noted, “They have also argued that in order to assuage the inflationary effects of these reforms on the most vulnerable, the government had been implementing temporary cash transfers to reach over 15 million households, with efforts also being made to tighten monetary policy and refocus the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on its core mandate of maintaining price stability.”

The Guild then noted that in light of the difficult economic environment, “Nigeria offers limited opportunities to most of its citizens, especially as Nigeria is currently ranked the 7th lowest human capital index in the world,” adding that weak job creation and emigration in search of better prospects are among the country’s foremost challenges.

On the issue of media sustainability, the NGE emphasised that media stakeholders should come out with mechanisms to support the media industry – for individual publishers and the sector as a whole, by ensuring they receive fair compensation for the use of their intellectual property and content.

Noting the urgency of viable financing strategies, the Guild stated, “The argument is that mechanisms should adjust to evolving market conditions and boost the likelihood that publishers can build diverse revenue streams.”

ANEC 2024 is anticipated to draw over 350 editors and media professionals from across Nigeria, marking a milestone since its inception in 2004. The event will also witness the induction of 12 new editors into the NGE, underscoring the Guild’s ongoing commitment to advancing the media profession.

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