Warri, Delta State – July 10, 2025, marks the fourth anniversary of the Congress newspaper. At the celebration held at TM Hotel on Airport Road, Ekanpou Enewaredideke gave a powerful speech. He spoke about the important role journalism plays in our society.
Mr. Enewaredideke stressed that journalism must change for the better. He said that feelings of sympathy, secret payments (often called “brown envelopes”), and money offers should not control how journalists do their work. “This has to change,” he said, “if we want to build strong institutions. These strong institutions are key to having good governance and making people answer for their actions.”
His words hit home. For a country to grow and for its leaders to be honest, the news must be fair and true. When journalists let personal feelings or money influence their reporting, they fail the public. They stop being watchdogs and become tools. Good journalism shines a light on problems. It holds powerful people accountable. But if that light is dimmed by bribes or skewed by sympathy, then corruption can hide in the dark.
Mr. Enewaredideke’s message is clear: For Nigeria to move forward, its newsrooms must be places of truth and honesty. Journalists have a huge responsibility. They must stand firm against anything that tries to twist the truth. Only then can they truly help build a nation where good governance and accountability are not just dreams, but reality.
