Invest technologically to combat insecurity –– Ex-lawmaker tasks FG
By Akintunde Jacobs, Akure
A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Joseph Akinlaja, has tasked the Federal Government to invest heavily in technology toward combating insecurity in the country.
Akinlaja, while speaking at the 2021 Public Lecture and Award Nite chaired by the former Provost, Adeyemi College of Education Ondo town, Prof. Olukoya Ogen, organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Ondo State, however, noted that there was need to rejig the security apparatus of the country.
The ex-lawmaker, who spoke on the theme: “Insecurity: Roles of the Society and the Media”, tasked every Nigerian to imbibe the principle of true patriotism and contribute their quota to addressing the security challenge in the country.
Akinlaja enjoined media practitioners to make national security part of their agenda and that they should expose criminal activities, while Nigerian authorities should ensure equity and fairness.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who was the special guest of honour at the event said that security was everybody’s concern and must be taken as priority.
Akeredolu, who was represented by his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, noted that the roles of media could not be over-emphasised being a major stakeholder, modelling public opinions for better society.
According to him, government and media were partners in progress saying society could hardly progress without robust relationship with mass media.
The governor, therefore, said that the theme of the lecture was apt and timely in respect of current happenings in the country.
Tope Fayehun, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, in his keynote address, noted that the public lecture was the first of its kind in the last 21 years of the chapel, adding that the chapel had been on its toes in contributing to addressing security challenges in the state.
Fayehun, therefore, called for the support of the state government and individuals to smoothen roles played by the chapel’s members.
Awards were conferred on Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, Olowo of Owo Kingdom, Dr Thomas-Wilson Ikubese, Chairman of Sckye Hospitals and Diagnostics Ltd and Chief Akindele Omole.
Others were Pastor Gbenga Akinbiyi, the Senior Pastor of the Promised Land Prophetic Ministry Worldwide and DSP Odunlami Funmilayo, the Ondo State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO).
