Minister of Foreign Affairs
Geoffrey Onyeama has said the Federal Government is winning foreign investors’
confidence
through the fight against corruption and the Ease of Doing Business
policy.
He added that the success of the
Federal Government’s foreign policy is dependent on the quality of content
being aired to the world by the media. The media, the diplomat said, has a key
role to play in changing the perception of foreign investors about Nigeria,
urging members of the fourth estate of the realm to support government’s efforts
to drive inclusive economic growth through foreign direct investment.
Onyeama spoke on Tuesday night
when he delivered the keynote address at the Diplomatic Night organised by The
Island Club. The event, which hosted businessmen and members of diplomatic
community, was held to facilitate business opportunities for members of the
club through embassies and high commissions.
Speaking on the theme: The
Nigerian Foreign Policy in a Changing World: What Role for the Nigerian Media?,
Onyeama, represented by former Nigeria Ambassador to Sierra Leone Mrs Gladys
Adebiyi said: “The Nigerian media owes the country’s teeming population a duty
of reporting objective and accurate information on the activities of
government, especially as it relates to the tripod policy thrust of the Buhari
administration.
“The media cannot shy away from
being objective as this is one of its roles in the changing world. If the
constant flow of information is not properly managed, it could become an
impediment to the national security since news coverage on certain topics may
lead to disclosure of classified information. The role of the media in
reporting foreign policy and national interest, if not properly managed, could
compromise national security interest and socio-economic development.”
The chairman of the occasion and
former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), noted that it
was a wrong notion to describe Nigeria as the most corrupt country in the world
based on financial crimes committed by a “tiny fraction” of the populace.
He described Nigerians as good
people, saying it was wrong for the West to paint all Nigerians with the same
brush used for people committing advanced fee fraud. He said corruption was not
synonymous with Africa alone, noting that the West remained unrivalled in
graft.
Nwachukwu, who was a journalist
before joining the military, said: “No country in the world is made up of
angels. Every country is managing its image. I do not support corruption, but I
know Nigeria is not the most corrupt country in the world. The media has role
to play in telling the world who we are. It is the way we paint ourselves on
the television, newspaper and on the internet that the people in the world over
would take us.”
Responding on behalf of the
diplomatic corps, Ambassador Philip Sinou, said the event would go a long way
in fostering relationship between Nigerian business community and members of
diplomatic corps.
The club chairman, Mr Olabanji
Oladapo, said the Diplomatic Night was created in the 1950s by the club to
enhance interaction and healthy relationship between the club members and
diplomatic community.
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