By Atinuke Alao
The Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development in Kwara State, Dr Lawal Olalekan Olohungbebe, has urged Journalists to be wary of accountability and prioritize godliness in their reportage.
He emphasized the importance of accountability in the journalism profession, saying that every word written or spoken would be accounted for in the hereafter.
Olohungbebe stated this at the annual Ramadan Iftar of Kwara State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) held at Press Centre, Offa Road, GRA, Ilorin on Saturday.
The Ramadan Iftar was themed “Leadership, Media and the Fight Against Insecurity in Society.”
Olohungbebe told members of the fourth estate of the realm to prioritize truth telling in their journalistic practice and verify every information at their disposal before publishing such.
“As Muslim faithful, we need to prioritize truthfulness and verify information made available to us. As journalists, we know that we have to say it the way it is but one thing is clear. We must be conscious of protection of lives and property.
“Let us understand that accountability is there for journalists. Almighty Allah does not spare anyone. Let us be godly journalists, you will account for every word used,” he said.
Olohungbebe stressed that journalists, particularly Muslim media practitioners, must be guided by truth, verification and accountability in their reports, especially at a time the country is facing security challenges.
He affirmed that Islam places great emphasis on verifying information before dissemination, explaining that the Qur’an instructs believers to confirm the authenticity of information before spreading it in order to avoid misleading the public.
The commissioner explained that rumours and misinformation have existed for centuries, even during the time of Prophet Muhammad, when communication was mainly through face-to-face interactions and letter writing.
He said, “While it is the duty of journalists to report the truth, media practitioners must also be mindful of the possible consequences of certain reports on public peace and security.”
He added that Islamic scholars also have significant roles to play in promoting peace and security in communities.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Social Development in Kwara State, Dr Mariam Nnafatima Imam, said the event provided journalists with the necessary spiritual nourishment during the holy month of Ramadan and encouraged journalists to continue to uphold professionalism and moral values in their duties.
She commended the state NUJ for organizing the programme.
In his remarks, the state Chairman of NUJ, ‘Lanre Ahmed, said the
essence of the military is to protect the territorial integrity of the nation while the Journalists have the responsibility to ensure that their reports don’t give unnecessary attention the violent actors who have continued to perpetrate their evils.
He expressed concern over what he described as needless rivalry among some Islamic scholars in the quest for supremacy.
Ahmed described such attitude as unfortunate, noting that religious leaders should rather serve as role models and pathfinders for the society.
The NUJ chairman also advised the media not to promote such conflicts but instead guide the public by focusing on issues that promote unity and moral values.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman, House Committee on Health and Nutrition at the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Seun Ogunniyi, said journalists have the responsibility of refining and verifying news before releasing it into the media space, adding that such professionalism would help promote responsible journalism.
He commended the leadership of the state council of NUJ for organizing what he described as an insightful and impactful lecture.
The Chairman of the 2026 Kwara NUJ Iftar Committee, Binta Abubakar Mora, noted that the lecture highlighted the crucial role journalists must play in addressing the menace of insecurity.
She appreciated the guest lecturer for delivering a thought-provoking lecture and providing the spiritual guidance needed at a time the nation is grappling with security challenges.
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