The President, Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON), Professor Eserinune McCarty Mojaye has called on government at all levels, key players in the private sector, and public-spirited individuals to partner with and support communication researchers in their commitment towards engendering national development through research.
Professor Mojaye made the call on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, in his address at the opening ceremony of the 3rd International Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the AMCRON which was held the Biodun Shobanjo Centre of Excellence in Multimedia Technology and Cinematography, Department of Mass Communication University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos.
The AMCRON President explained that the association came into being in 2018 with a mission to advance scholarship, research and drive development in all areas. He added that AMCRON’s membership has grown remarkably over the years and across both academia and industry. He hinged this feat on members’ unanimous resolve to identify and conduct research as a bedrock for national development.
Professor Mojaye raised concerns over the continued misuse of social media among other pressing challenges, and charged AMCROM members who were gathered at the event, to look into this negative trend and proffer recommendations which would address the quagmire.
With the theme: Communication, Mass Media and Governance in Africa: Trajectories, Expectations and Realities, the event also featured a keynote address by retired Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication, Professor Ralph Akinfeleye. He applauded the commitment of AMCRON to research for national development and advocated the need for such efforts to be timely, relevant and issue-based.
The immediate past Chairman, UNILAG Centre of Excellence in Multimedia Technology and Cinematography reminded every media practitioner of the sacred obligation to the people as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution. He regretted the non-justiciability of Chapter 2, Section 22 of the constitution, and also called out a section of the media for what he described as acts of sabotage during the last general elections.
While decrying the dearth of literature in the Nigerian media space, Prof. Akinfeleye said Media related research must henceforth, serve as a tool for national unity, research methodologies must be reviewed and made wholistic while media operators must insist on professionalism to rid the profession of unprofessional conducts causing blemishes.
In his remarks, Chairman of the 3rd AMCRON International Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM), Dr Biodun Shobanjo congratulated the rank-and-file of the Association for their contributions to national development.
The Chief Executive Officer, Troyka Holdings Limited and Marketing Communications Expert expressed strong reservations over the flagrant abuse of media rules as well as the trend of media bullying, occurrences which he said must be nipped in the bud to avert the grievous danger it portends for the industry
While passing a vote of confidence that the conference will be a platform for innovative ideas, Dr Shobanjo charged communication researchers at the event to discuss issues affecting media development in Nigeria, suggest possible solutions and also circulate their recommendations.
There were remarks and goodwill messages by the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola OON, FAS, whose message was delivered by the Head, Department of Mass Communication, UNILAG, Professor Adepoju Tejumaiye; Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Laja Odukoya and Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, Professor Abraham Osinubi.
They all applauded the theme of the conference, describing it as timely and salient especially in the nation’s quest for cohesion, good governance, national development, peace and security.
There were also goodwill messages from representatives of the Directors-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Voice of Nigeria (VON), and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). They all congratulated the Communication Researchers on the 3rd international conference, implored members to deliberate on issues affecting the growth of the media in Nigeria and make suggestions which would return media practice in Nigeria to its pride of place as the true watchdog of the society and the bridge between the government and the people.
