The inaugural Arewa Media Summit has called for stronger collaboration between government, citizens and the media to deepen accountability, transparency and responsible public communication for national development.
This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the summit held at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano, under the theme, “Government-Citizen Accord: Accountability, Responsibility and Ethical Media Practice.”
The summit, convened by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Public Enlightenment in collaboration with the Kano State Government, attracted more than 1,500 participants, including government officials, media executives, journalists, academics, civil society organisations, digital content creators and youth leaders from across Northern Nigeria.
According to the communiqué, participants observed that mutual trust between government and citizens remains fundamental to democratic stability, peace and sustainable development.
It stated that government must provide timely, accurate and accessible information, while citizens should engage public issues “constructively, factually and responsibly.”
The communiqué recognised the media as a vital bridge between government and the people, stressing that journalists must continue to inform, educate and hold public institutions accountable while upholding fairness, accuracy and professionalism.
Participants also advocated a more balanced narrative about Northern Nigeria, noting that the region should not be defined solely by insecurity.
They observed that the North possesses “rich cultural heritage, commercial strength, agricultural potential, creative industries, intellectual resources and youthful population,” and called for greater visibility for stories of innovation, resilience, enterprise and community development.
The summit further acknowledged ongoing development initiatives at both federal and state levels in infrastructure, regional development, livestock development, education, digital skills, economic reforms and security.
As part of efforts to enhance public access to information, the organisers unveiled the Gani Ya Kori Ji initiative, described as a project inspection and public enlightenment programme designed to give journalists, digital content creators and other stakeholders firsthand access to development projects across Northern Nigeria.
According to the communiqué, participants noted that access to firsthand information on public projects would strengthen democratic accountability by enabling journalists and citizens to “assess government claims, report facts, ask informed questions and track development outcomes in the public interest.”
The summit also emphasised that ethical journalism, media literacy and responsible digital communication were indispensable to national unity and sustainable development, while urging greater collaboration to tackle misinformation and disinformation.
Participants resolved to promote ethical journalism anchored on accuracy, verification, fairness, balance and public interest, while discouraging sensationalism and divisive narratives.
They also pledged to support initiatives that improve citizens’ access to credible information on government policies, programmes and projects, saying public communication should strengthen transparency and the public’s right to know.
The communiqué further resolved that the Arewa Media Summit should become a regular platform for dialogue among governments, media practitioners, academics, civil society organisations, youth groups and other stakeholders.
Participants expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting democratic dialogue and public engagement, and commended Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for hosting the summit.
They also praised the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, for his keynote address, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Public Enlightenment, Malam Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, for convening the summit.
The communiqué said participants ended the gathering with a collective commitment to promoting accountable governance, ethical journalism, responsible digital communication, peaceful coexistence, national unity and sustainable development.
