The Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) and other stakeholders have called on journalists to educate grassroot communities towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The AMDF, during a zoom meeting to mark its 2022 Bagauda Kaltho Media Lecture Series, advised journalists to hold policy makers and their representatives accountable towards achieving the SDGs.

Dr Linus Akor, Senior Lecturer, Sociology Department, Federal University, Gusau, in a paper highlighted the role media play in the society, particularly towards achieving any meaningful development.

While discussing “The Nexus Between the Mass media, Sustainable Development and Promotion of the SDGs,” the don urged the media to use their platform to educate the society about holding stakeholders accountable.

He described the mass media as change agents, who serve as watchdog in the society, hence the need for them to ensure the achievements of SDGs target 2030 and any other developmental projects.

Akor, however, listed obstacles hindering the achievements of SDGs to include poor access to free media, over concentration of media in urban areas than rural communities and ownership of media organisations by elites.

He therefore encouraged the media to focus their reportage on developmental issues especially with focus in rural areas.

Mr Abdullah El-Kurebe, a senior Media Practitioner and Public Analyst, stressed the need for the media to set an agenda that would ensure all projects are effectively implemented and promises kept.

El-Kurebe described that most media organisations were owned by politicians and policy makers, hence some of the reports were biased and not centred on community development.

He therefore stressed the need for community radio in rural areas to disseminate information that would enable the people hold their political representative accountable for development projects.

Another panelist, Sola Ojo, a media practitioner, called on the media to ensure sustainability and continuous reportage of development projects to ensure the persons involved are held accountable.

Mrs Zhiro Jairus, another media practitioner, called on journalists to make citizens understand the role legislature and policy makers play in SDGs and other projects.

Mr Iliya Kure, the Executive Director, AMDF, urged the media to integrate elements of fact checking and investigative journalism in their reportage, which will hold relevant stakeholders accountable for promises made and execution of projects effectively.

Mr Joseph Edegbo, a veteran journalist, said the lecture was timely as it also highlighted unresolved issues surrounding the disappearance of Mr Bagauda Kaltho, a renowned investigative journalist who went missing in 1996. (