The Media Is Critical To Nation Building – Obi

The former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi has described the media as critical to nation building. Obi was speaking yesterday during the 10th anniversary of UNIZIK FM at the schools auditorium.

Obi said that rather use the media to propagate hate speeches and negative tendencies, that the media could be effectively used to appraise the development of the nations of the world so that the country would better appreciate what other countries are doing that make them to succeed and what others are doing that make them fail.

Admonishing the audience who are mostly students and the youth, he called on them to have faith in themselves and their capacities arguing that most people that succeeded in the world saw opportunities where others saw nothing.

Answering questions on the plight of the youth with regard to the comment credited to President Buhari, Obi said he believed the President was either misquoted or quoted out of context.

Obi, who commended Nigerian youths for being hardworking and innovative said that the only challenge they face in Nigeria was cumulative leadership failure, which had not put things right for them to fully unleash their potentials. Talking about leadership failure, Obi used Nigerian debt profile as an example, saying that it was inexplicable that a country that recently enjoyed debt cancellation had accumulated over 70 billion dollars so soon. He wondered what such recklessness will lead the country by the year 2025.

Arguing about the ingenuity of the Nigerian youth, Obi said that Nigerians should ask themselves while the same youths do well in other climes, where they have the necessary infrastructure even without the needed support.

Continuing, Obi said that what was needed in Nigeria and most African countries, as he made clear to them during the Commonwealth meeting, was for the country to fully support Micro, Small and Medium enterprises (MSME), which he said was what China did to experience developmental boom they are enjoying today.

Obi who wished the youth well advised them to remain focused amidst the present challenges, which he advised they should help in resolving by coming forward, against all odds, to participate responsibly in government.

The event which was chaired by Sen. Ben Obi had the cream of the University community led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Esimone Charles in attendance.

The Director of the station, Prof. Stella Okunna was full of appreciation to the guests and the School authority for being supportive to the project, pledging to continue to project the goal of its establishment.