The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, has urged stakeholders in the broadcasting industry to air programmes that will not harm our culture, children and society.

Maku made the call on Monday in Uyo while declaring open a three-day retreat on the review of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code organised by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

He noted that broadcasting was a veritable tool for the development of any country.

“Broadcasting is one of the most potent medium to promote our cultural heritage, diffuse information and enlighten the people on various areas of development.

“It is in this regard that we need to pay more attention to how the business of broadcasting is carried out in the country.

“Broadcasting must be mindful of the degree of harm and offence likely to be caused by the inclusion of any material in programming likely to harm our culture, our children and our society.”

He noted that the broadcasting code plays a pivotal role in the social, cultural, technological, economic and political lives of Nigerians.

Maku urged the participants to deliberate on the emerging creative and technical challenges revolving around digitisation and the use of the Internet.

In his goodwill message, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom advised that the review of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code should conform to the socio-economic, cultural and political demands of the country.

Akpabio called for restraint in reporting the current security challenges in the country as doing so could send wrong signals to the international community.

In his remarks, the Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr Yomi Bolarinwa, said that regulating broadcasting was critical in promoting cultural values.

Bolarinwa noted that many countries in the world had used broadcasting to increase indigenous language production, reinforce national cultures and protect cultural independence.

He said that though the NBC was empowered by law to set code for the industry, it decided to seek the views of stakeholders to meet the aspirations of all Nigerians.

In his goodwill message, the Chairman of DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, urged the NBC to remove unwarranted obstacles in order to attract investments in the broadcasting industry.

Dokpesi noted that regulations for broadcasting were necessary to stimulate investment, growth and the sustenance of broadcast services.