Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and former Managing Director of Champion newspapers, Mr. Emma Agu, on Saturday called on the media to partner with government and put the nation above every other interest.

They spoke at the 2017 Biennial Convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Lagos.

Ambode commended the NGE for its contributions to the growth of journalism in the nation and its choice of Lagos, the hub of journalism for the event, especially as the state turns 50.

“My request and message to you today is to embrace partnership as an option for the growth and development of the country.

“We may serve in different arms of the society, but we all share a common goal which is to make our country better.

“One of the major responsibilities of the Media is to advance the cause of good governance.

“Whilst free media is at the heart of true democracy, our focus should be how the Media can more effectively support this agenda.

Ambode tasked the media to lend the needed support in bringing government`s noble efforts to public consciousness.

“With your vital partnership, we are hopeful that other governments can borrow a leaf from the Lagos Model and replicate same in their respective domains, to promote good governance to the greater benefit of humanity,” he said.

The governor said that government was conscious of the fact that it had a duty to guarantee every Lagosian maximum benefits of democracy dividends.

“This requires innovativeness, selflessness, diligence and prudent management of available human and material resources which we have  deployed, in order to improve the well-being of our people,” he said.

He also said that  government would continue to initiate and execute programmes aimed at making the state the investment haven and tourism destination of Africa.

He commended the NGE for its efforts in stimulating awareness and addressing issues relevant to the growth and development of journalism and the nation.

He said explained that a Ministry of Wealth Creation was set up to create policies aimed at addressing unemployment through the state entrepreneurship Trust Fund.

The governor said  that the state government had released more than N4 billion to 2000 people to create jobs.

“We are irrevocably committed to promoting the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sub-sector in the State,” Ambode said.

Mr. Agu urged media professionals to at all times place national interest above parochial considerations, stressing that at this time of recession and critical juncture of our national life, the media needs to strong build a partnership with actors in governments.

Delivering the keynote at the opening ceremony, Mr Agu said those in government need the media as a vehicle to convey their visions to the people. Both institutions, he said, should be partners. He said such partnership should be deliberately forged and sustained on the props of national interest with the objective of building the society.