Joseph Bakare
Publisher of Oriental News Nigeria, and Treasurer of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), Mrs. Yemisi Izuora, has commended the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) for instituting award specially to appreciate dedicated efforts of the mass media in promoting national development.
Mrs. Izuora, said that there is no better way to express gratitude than creating such a reward initiative as demonstrated by the apex body of Nigerian Manufacturers.
In a statement after the Association’s award to Oriental News Nigeria during the 2025 edition of the MAN Media Personality Of The Year Award/Presidential Media Luncheon on Wednesday in Lagos, Izuora said the award is not only appreciated but poses challenge to proliferate its reportage of the industry.
At the ceremony Oriental News Nigeria came top in the Online category.
Mrs. Izuora, also advised the media to consistently play their role in national development in an environment that is free and independent, with fair ownership spread.
She further cautioned that biases, sensationalism, propaganda and media vices are inimical to the media role in national development and has been a subject of discourse in communication literature.
The media, with specific reference to the collective entity of newspapers, radio, television and the Internet, are important in shaping the development process of a country, she opined adding that development involves changes or
advancement in a nation aimed at improving the political, economic and social lives of the people.
She stressed that it is a multidimensional process of action, organization and communication and involves economic, political, social and cultural factors and that the real influence of the media in national development will depend on the media themselves, the societies in which they operate, and the audience they reach.
She further stated that the media set the public agenda and act as the
gatekeeper of public issues, performing the watchdog role especially in political transparency and fight against corruption.
As the fourth estate, the media provide the checks and balances in relation to the three branches of government.