A former Lagos State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, on Thursday said that establishment of community newspapers would facilitate the development of Nigeria’s democracy.
Bamigbetan made the assertion on Thursday in Lagos at the 2nd anniversary of ‘Festac Weekly’, a community-based newspaper.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the newspaper published by First Born Productions covers events within the Amuwo Odofin LGA of Lagos State.
According to the former commissioner, establishment of a community newspaper will enable the community members to know what happens around them, thereby facilitate development.
He added that such a medium would enable the community to have a voice.
On Echo News, a community newspaper which he initiated to serve the Ejigbo, Isolo and Oshodi communities in Lagos State, the former official said that it had promoted education of the community on how democracy should work.
“When we report how the chairman of a local government takes his budget to the councillors, when we make the point that the councillors should be the ones to finally approve the budget of the chairman, people are shocked; they never know the process.
“Many people are used to the governor presenting his budget to the House of Assembly but they are not conscious that the chairman also presents his to the councillors.
“The councillors also have oversight functions to visit primary health centres and primary schools, and make comments on how they can be improved,” he said.
Bamigbetan praised the publisher and the editorial team of Festac Weekly for helping to draw attention to how a community could grow.
He urged entrepreneurs to advertise in local newspapers to be able to reach their clients residing in localities.
Mr Yomi Adejumo, the Founder of Festac Weekly, told NAN that the newspaper would serve as an interface between the local government and the community.
Adejumo, who is also the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Chief Press Secretary, said that though the newspaper was called Festac Weekly, it would serve the whole communities around Festac Town.
“The name Festac came up because it is the biggest community within the LGA,” he said.
The newspaper’s Editor-in-Chief, Mrs Ruth Adewale, said the weekly publication would give Amuwo Odofin community a voice and information through pictures and text.
“The scope is to cover every aspect of human endeavour such as business, medicine and law.
” It will also serve as a platform for business owners to reach their customers,” she said.
