The Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo has challenged freelance and independent broadcasters Association of Nigeria ( FIBAN) to sustain the legacies of their founding fathers and late icons through the restructuring of broadcast contents to further address societal ills, promote culture and morals for a better society.
Oluomo gave the task during a keynote address at the 2022 week of the Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria, Ogun State Chapter, held in Abeokuta.
The Speaker, who was represented by the Director of Information in the State House of Assembly, Mr. Jamiu Lawal, extolled the virtues of the late Toba Opaleye, Gbenga Adeboye and Kola Olawuyi amongst others, saying that the State and the entire broadcast industry in the nation had lost icons in presentation; and soldiers in the field of reformation and restoration of culture in the society.
The Speaker challenged them to improve on their creative capacity through multi-tasking and versatility in addition to upholding professional ideals, with a view to entrenching discipline and morals in the people.
In his presentation, a former National President, FIBAN, Yemi Sonde said the event was put together to immortalize the late progenitors of the association, whose works were being referenced even in the academia, adding that broadcasters remained opinion moulders whose presentations must be geared towards ensuring attitudinal change in the society.
Also, a public commentator, Otunba Segun Sowunmi who spoke on the topic: “Risk and Challenges for Public Media Practitioners in the face of Economic and Social Pressure”, outlined administrative bottlenecks, proliferation of broadcast outfits, social pressure and politics as issues that had been affecting the practice of freelance broadcasting in the country.
Sowunmi encouraged broadcasters to engage in capacity training towards improving their knowledge and technical know-how to address societal issues.