The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has called on state governments in the South-east and South-south geopolitical zones in the country to jointly tackle the security challenges in their states.

Arising from a two-day conference with the theme ‘The Media as Partners in Regional Development’ held in Owerri, the Imo State capital, at the weekend, the conference in a communiqué signed by NGE President, Eze Anaba and the General Secretary, Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, also tasked editors to play down on the dissemination of information and messages of identified self-seeking groups in the zones promoting insecurity and violence.

The conference, which was organised by the NGE in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) and the government of Imo State, targeted 54 editors and media executives in South-East and South-South geopolitical zones.

Observing that active and meaningful collaboration of the media was necessary for meaningful development in the zones, the conference tasked the media in the region to employ investigative and development journalism, as well as constructive dialogue to support the revival of the unity in the zones.

“The media should foster a culture of continuous innovation to reposition themselves at the forefront of digital transformation, rather than resisting it. The governors of the zones should reenact the synergy, cohesion and unity, which formed the bedrock of the development of critical infrastructure in the past.

“Editors and media executives should promote investigative and development journalism as well as promote constructive dialogue to revive the unity in the zones’’, the conference added.

The conference also urged the media to always prioritise children’s welfare in reporting development, and hold states, which have refused to domesticate the Child Rights Act accountable.