Date Published: 03/25/10

Role of Media at advocating for water quality {LECTURE}

BEING THE LECTURE ENTITLED “THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA  AT ADVOCATING FOR WATER QUALITY” DELIVERED BY PRINCE DIMEJI KAYODE-ADEDEJI TO  MARK 2010 WORLD WATER DAY ORGANISED BY EARTH CHARTER YOUTH GROUP, OGUN STATE CHAPTER, HELD AT CONFERENCE HALL, SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL, ADATAN, ABEOKUTA TODAY, MARCH 22, 2010.

Protocols (Greetings to those present)

Let me start by appreciating the organizers of this event from the bottom of my heart.  I must, and I mean I must, appreciate you because of all the array of eminent Nigerians, nay journalists, that abound not only in this Gateway State, but the entire Federation, why the choice of me?  However, I thank you for the honor done me, by inviting me to talk to this august gathering.

It is a well known fact that International World Water Day is held globally annually on 22nd March as a means of focusing world attention on the importance of fresh water, and advocating for sustainable management of fresh water resources.

It is in view of this that the United Nations (UN) has chosen Communicating Water Quality Challenges And Opportunities as theme for this year celebration. Not only that the UN chose this topic, you and I know the significance of water in our society, particularly to our body and, generally, our existence.  Without water, we cannot live not to even talk of living a meaningful life, thus the essential of water in our society.

And back home here, the Earth Charter Youth Group, Ogun State Chapter in conjunction with IDEA and AIESEC, took the initiative of being part of history and resolved to look at the role of Journalists in the task of water management, with the topic “The Role of Media at Advocating for Water Quality.”

Once again, let me confess to you all that I am proud to be associated with Earth Charter Youth Group.  Unknown to the group, I have been monitoring their activities and I am convinced about their commitment, dedication towards youth development.

These are the factors that I put into great consideration before accepting to be the Guest Speaker today, and I want to emphasize and encourage members of this group not to relent in their efforts, as future leaders of our dear country and the world.

Now to the business of the day, water as we all know is a household essential all over the world, because without water there can’t be life. This takes me back to the memory lane on the music of the late Afro legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, which says “water no get enemy….”  In order word, we cannot afford to ignore water as whoever does so will be doing that at his or her own peril, if at all it is possible to do so.

However, our focus is quality water, but with the increasing concerns over water contamination, organic material, fertilizer, and other potential contaminants, attention to water quality is an absolute necessity in providing the best care.

Water is the single most important nutrient you can offer.  Unfortunately, its qualities are often taken for granted. It is a major component and is necessary for metabolic function, and regulation of body temperature as well as other bodily functions.

Water is necessary for the survival of most living things.  In fact, dehydration – the lack of water – will kill an organism faster than starvation.  In addition to sustaining life, clean fresh water is needed by humans for personal hygiene.  Water quality may also be affected by natural causes such as volcanic eruptions.

The importance of clean water, coupled with its scarcity due to over-use, climate, and pollution, has resulted in increased concerns about water quality and quantity

Water should be odorless, colorless, and tasteless.  It should be available at all times.  Keep water clean and change frequently, several times daily if possible. Well or spring water should comply with the standards set by your public water provider. Water sources should be checked regularly, particularly when digestive or intestinal problems are present.

THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN WATER MANAGMENT

The importance of the media in any society cannot be over-emphasized, and through the advent of technology, the world has become a global village. The media perform the role of informing, educating and entertaining the public, in addition to encouraging socio-economic and political developments in nations of the world, Nigeria inclusive.

However, it has been discovered that media reporting on water and quality has not been adequate, and this is a developmental issues. Studies reveal that Nigerian media give prominence to politics and business issues while water reporting is scarcely covered. This has, however, contributes to negligence on government part.

Though you cannot specifically blamed the media when you consider the type of news our teeming readers want to be reading on daily basis.  The media serve the people the kind of news menu they prefer, or to put it better, the ones that will make, in the case of newspapers and magazines, their news sell.

An independent survey revealed that media attention to water ranks low in comparison with such others as health, education, and agriculture, among others. Experts have equally agreed that "the relevance of media as a critical interface between the government and the people in provision of quality water is almost gone.”

For example, recently there were media reports about water scarcity in Ogun State.  Yes, it was beautiful and timely report, yours sincerely inclusive of the reporters who performed that patriotic duty, particularly as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, which re-awakened government from its slumber, but the point is that media do not need to wait until this type of incident happened.

Let me refresh your memory, if you have read them before, or inform you for the first time, some of the news items during the turbulent and agonizing period of our people including you and I who reside in Abeokuta.

We have various headlines with different angles to the stories as reported in the media. For instance, The Next Newspapers wrote “Water Scarcity Bites Harder in Abeokuta” as its headline with the content thus: “The scarcity of potable water in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, enters its third week with residents of the town now forced to rely on rivers and streams to meet their water needs……..” The story was accompanied with a photograph of residents frantically searching for water, carrying with them jerry cans, buckets and all sorts of materials available to fetch water anywhere available and, to stress it more, reachable.  It is another thing for water to be available, it is another matter entirely that it will be accessible or reachable at the terrible period.

Similarly, The Punch Newspaper in its own version of the report says“Epidemic Looms As Waters Scarcity Persists in Ogun.”  The content informed further: “The acute water scarcity in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, appears not to abate as taps remained dry on Monday as the impact of the water scarcity begins to register on critical areas of human activities…..”

In its own account, The Sun Newspaper headline portrayed the development in an alarming manner.  It reads: “Cholera Looms in Abeokuta, as water tap go dry”  The news was reported further thus: “An outbreak of cholera looms in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, as water taps go dry, forcing residents to search endlessly for water from alternative sources.“The development made the days hectic for residents of the ancient town with many scooping water from unhygienic sources like streams, and rivers...”

Daily Trust Newspaper was not left out in the report. Its own headline reads “Abeokuta Residents Fear Epidemic, As Water Scarcity Hits Ogun” It informed further: “Residents of Abeokuta and its environs are now living under fear of a possible outbreak of water-borne epidemic, following an acute shortage of potable water in the last few weeks.”

All these are commendable because it was as a result these reports that the management ofthe Ogun State Water Corporation responded to the menace. It came out to tell the world the problems which led to the sudden disappearance of potable water, an essential necessity, to members of the public. The various reports were part of the roles expected of the media, which later saved the situation early enough from degenerating into something else, like hospitalization of many residents and attendant loss of lives.  But let us thank the media and our Almighty God who assisted Ogun State to overcome what could have been a major disaster in the state capital of this Gateway State.

However, I am of the conviction that, if the popular Yoruba adage,‘gbonmon gbonmon la nran ifa aditi’ (meaning it is continuous drumming of gong for the deaf to enable the deaf hear) had been taken by the media, government would have, apparently, taken up the challenge before getting to that stage which forced residents searching for “poor” water, which was not available at that particular point in time.

My humble listeners, as am nearing the end of my paper, let me stress that similarly, another area which media has gigantic role to play in advocating for water quality is the influx of the so-called sachet water producers.  The media need to intensify further efforts to expose number of fake producers, and where some of them connive with government officials, they should be exposed.

To end my submission distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me stress that the media can also help to uncover natural spring water sites located across the nation, and encourage government through write up to tap the opportunities in providing quality and adequate water supply.

But the support to identify these sites lies in you, as journalists are not saints or angels, they depend on you seated here today and others out there in the public to gather their information for dissemination to members of the public.

At this juncture, let me once again salute your decision to invite me here today.  Permit me to say I thank you all for your prompt attention.  May God bless all of us.  Amen.


Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji