Amid rising operational costs, a media expert, Adeniyi Ifetayo, has urged the Federal Government to consider financial bailout funds for the media following the lingering economic downturn.

According to him, the media remains the image maker of a country and should be supported by the government to continue its business.

Ifetayo stated this while addressing journalists during the official unveiling of the Reigh Advertising and Megastar Media Communications Office in Abuja.

Ifetayo, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Megastar Media Communications, recalled that during the COVID-19 lockdown periods, some media houses and journalists in Europe were supported by their governments due to low-income generation.

“Every industry should be given a bailout, especially the fourth estate of the realm, because I had a friend in Europe who said that even during the lockdown, the government sent money every month, every week—about 500 euros and all of that.

“Even if you cannot do that, there are sectors that are very critical to the economy, because the media is like an ambassador. They project our image. If we are doing good, they will project it,” he said.

He said the main purpose of establishing Reigh Advertising and Megastar Media Communications is to connect businesses across the board and amplify voices worldwide.

“So we are here to amplify whatever you are doing, whether your profile, your product, or whatever it is. We want to amplify it. And we are not doing it alone; we have strategic partners all over the world.

“For example, if you are in Nigeria and looking for an investor in China or the Middle East, we have a media partnership that can project your story, your brand, and whatever you are doing. They will be the ones looking for you.

“Just like I said, we are more of a media buying, media planning, media advisory firm—whatever it is, you know, crisis management, reputation management, and brand visibility. Whatever you are doing, we want to give you brand visibility because communication is very key,” Ifetayo noted.

He said the media firms have a strategic partnership with Pan-Atlantic University to train their students and graduates for six months or one year in journalism.

“And the reason for Pan-Atlantic University is that they don’t finish their course only within the four walls of the classroom. They tell their students or graduates that they must go and practice what we taught you inside the classroom or lecture room.

“So, they’ll be giving us some of their students who will do a six-month or one-year course to practice what it means to be a journalist. Just like sometimes in our schools now, especially in our institutions, with all due respect, you have a lecturer who has never run a business before, teaching business administration, just the theory aspect of it. So, I believe what we are doing is also to inculcate knowledge into younger generations,” he noted.

Speaking on the ease of doing business in Nigeria, Ifetayo maintained that Nigeria is one of the best places in the world.

“Nigerians in the diaspora are actually living in isolation; some of them are stranded, some are even considering coming back because many sold their things, thinking that Nigeria has nothing to offer them. But here, people are still making it.

“We have the numbers, we have the market. It’s just for you to be focused, be fast at what you do, be dedicated, and who knows, people will be looking at you,” he stated.