Speaking at the grand finale of the 2024 press week celebration of the Correspondents’ chapel of the Kwara state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Thursday night, the governor’s special adviser and counselor, Alhaji Saadu Salahudeen, said the last five years of the AbdulRazaq’s administration have brought about significant developments in all sectors.

He listed the renovation of more than 600 schools, urban renewal projects, massive road construction, payment of N750million salary areas to staff of the state owned three colleges of education, recruitment of new teachers, payment of over N14billion UBEC counterpart funds and eradication of polio within six months in office as some of the major impacts of the administration which he said cut across all the 16 LGAs and the 193 wards of the state.

While assuring that the AbdulRazaq’s administration would continue to partner the correspondents to promote development in the state, the governor’s aide said the current administration has “created a more conducive environment” for journalists to operate and practice their professions since it came on board.

The retired media guru and public relations expert, lauded the repositioning of the three state owned -media establishments- The Herald , Radio Kwara and Kwara TV by the AbdulRazaq’s administration.

The guest lecturer at the event, Senator Sadiq Umar representing Kwara North senatorial district, in his paper, tilted, “Democracy, Good Governance and Roles of Citizens”, called for active participation of citizens in political processes for good governance to be entrenched at all levels.

Represented by Dr. Abdulrahseed Sadudeen, the senator ,said “For democracy to flourish, citizens must actively participate in the political process, hold their leaders accountable, and advocate for transparency and fairness. Fostering a culture of civic engagement can strengthen the foundation of democracy and ensure that good governance prevails. As global challenges continue to arise, the role of citizens remains more critical than ever in shaping a just and equitable society””.

Also his keynote address, Dean Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences , university of Ilorin, professor Lukman Azeez represented by a lecturer in the university, Mrs Oluwakemi Akerele, urged journalists to do more in the area of investigative journalism to hold government accountable to the people.

State Commissioner for Communication, Mrs Bola Ojukoju urged media practitioners in the state to always uphold the tenets of their profession in the discharge of their duties.

“Let’s stand for the truth, if your are in doubt of about your stories, we have a channel of communication in Kwara state. Always reach out to us to verify your stories”,she said.

In his speech, chairman, correspondents chapel, Alhaji Abdulhakeem Garba decried recent attacks and arrest of journalists during the #Endbangovernace protest and other line of duties.

He called on the national assembly to enact a law that will criminalise attacks on journalists in the cause of discharging their constitional duties.