The President General of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) Alhaji Yerima Shettima has said that for any society to develop, the media must play a vital role, noting that the media can make or mar any society.
Speaking when he received on courtesy visit the leadership of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kaduna state council at AYCF headquarters in Kaduna, Alhaji Shettima said that being a product of struggle for the survival of democracy in Nigeria, he can attest to the fact that the media has played and is still playing a major role in Nigeria’s growth. He lauded the Chapel for finding him worthy of the visit.
Shettima stated that though Nigeria may not be where it aught to be today, the country will get there some day with the support of the media. He called on all and sundry to give maximum support towards ensuring that the leaders are held accountable in the provision of good governance. “I have seen all sides of the struggles, we stand for equity, justice for Nigeria and Nigerians. We must always demand for a country where no citizen is treated as a nobody.
“We are all equal as citizens of Nigeria and must be respected as such. All the Presidents since democracy came with promises that they rarely fulfil. Much is expected from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because Nigerians are passing through difficult times and Nigerians might take to the streets to demand a better condition of living and resist any unpopular policies that will undermine Nigerians.
“I will continue to partner and support the media in any way possible for them to discharge their duties efficiently and effectively, always feel free to reach out to me for any possible area of support within my powers,” he said.
The Chairman of the Chapel and Bureau Chief of Nation Newspapers, AbdulGafar Alabelewe said, they have identified the youth leader and how he has supported Journalists in their activities and thought it necessary to among other things come and say a big thank you to him and further solicit his continuous support. “We are here to thank you for your support to our members and to further reiterate our resolve to continue to partner with you and your organization, we are indeed grateful for your unrelenting magnanimity towards our members and the chapel.”
Alhaji Shettima was assisted in receiving the Chapel’s leadership by AYCF board member and Chairman of the Arewa Stakeholders Consultative Forum (ASCF), Comrade Paul Danjuma.
