By Newspointer News Desk
December 22, 2025
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has urged professional journalists to take ownership of Nigeria’s media space and curb the growing spread of fake news and misinformation.
The governor made the call at the grand finale of the 2025 Press Week organised by the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ilorin. He was represented by his Senior Adviser and Counsellor, Alhaji Saadu Salahu.
AbdulRazaq said the responsibility of safeguarding journalism lies largely with trained practitioners, stressing that the digital age should strengthen professionalism rather than weaken ethical standards.
He cautioned that freedom of the press must not be mistaken for a licence to spread misinformation or disinformation, warning that media platforms that promote falsehood risk losing public trust.
“I want to call on our colleagues not to join those in the habit of reporting fake news and misinformation,” the governor said, adding that those involved in such acts are not professional journalists.
He emphasised that accuracy, fact-checking and credibility remain the pillars of public confidence in the media, regardless of whether the platform is traditional or digital.
The governor commended the Kwara NUJ for its collaboration with the state government, describing the partnership as vital to transparency and good governance. He added that his administration values journalists, noting that more media practitioners have been brought into governance under his leadership than at any other time in the state’s history.
Also speaking, the Oloro of Oro Kingdom, Oba Joel Olaniyi Titiloye Oyatoye Olufayo II, praised journalists for upholding professional standards despite the challenges posed by fake news, and urged continued adherence to ethics.
Earlier, Kwara NUJ Chairman, Lanre Ahmed Abdullateef, said the Press Week provided an opportunity for journalists to reflect on the state of the profession, strengthen unity and celebrate resilience over the past year.
Highlights of the event included the presentation of NUJ awards to eminent Nigerians, while journalists also received awards and cash gifts to mark the end of the 2025 Press Week.
