By Izuchukwu Nwokoma
A Professor of Mass Communication, Gregory University, Uturu, Prof. Vincent Ikechukwu Ekwerike has implored broadcast stations in the country to do more in fostering unity by coming up with top notch programmes meant to consolidate on the unity of the country.
Prof. Ekwerike spoke as the lecturer during the 9th Inaugural lecture of Gregory University, Uturu held on Friday at the Goodluck Jonathan Auditorium with the topic, “Broadcast Programmes Contents As Social Engineering Strategies: A Leeway of Evolving and Consolidating National Unity.
He maintained that the media as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, has, over the years, churned out quality programmes aimed at promoting cohesion among various ethnic groups, calling for sustenance of those programmes especially now that the country’s unity is under threat.
Prof. Ekwerike charged the media in Nigeria, especially electronic, to incorporate salient issues revolving around the unity of Nigeria in their broadcast, and extensively discuss such issues, while also urging the media to pay less attention to issues that tend to put the unity of the country in jeopardy.

The 9th Inaugural lecturer said the media over time, has played the role of a social engineer, stressing that due to the power it wades in permeating people’s bone marrow, it has also been used as a Leeway for evolving and consolidating national cohesion cum unity.
Prof. Ekwerike who admitted that the Nigerian Civil War of 6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970, almost tore Nigeria apart, stated that media should consistently talk less about those issues that led to the war as constant mention or reportage of those issues will broaden and encourage disunity among various ethnic groups in the country.
He lauded the introduction of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Programme, saying that the scheme has gone a long way in fostering the unity of the country, just as he noted that the media has been in synergy with the scheme which has seen the motive behind the scheme continuously mentioned in the media space.
The Professor of Mass Communication said through social engineering, the media especially electronic, has been able to reach out to their dispersed audience in the language they can grasp and comprehend, revealing that through their political, economic, health , religious programmes, the media has continued to play a pivotal role in reshaping people as well as make them conform to expected societal standard.
He commended Skills 87.7 FM, Okigwe for parading quality content that has so far served as leeway in evolving and consolidating National Unity, advising the Management to avoid programmes that breed disunity.

Prof. Ekwerike also used the opportunity to call on the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu federal government to address poverty, issues affecting the welfare of the people and introduce measures that will consolidate the unity of Nigeria.
Responding, The Vice Chancellor, Gregory University, Uturu, Prof. Augustine A. Uwakwe, appreciated the 9th Inaugural lecturer, revealing that he is the second to present Inaugural lecturer from the Department of Mass Communication.
He also charged the media to continue to foster unity in the country, while decrying that the Nigerian society has been polarised with negative news which tends to set the country ablaze just as he called on the National Orientation Agency (NAO), to do more in re-orientating Nigerians especially the political class.