BENIN — Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has congratulated the General Manager, Publications/Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr Gbenga Adefaye, over his re-election as President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE.

Also saluting the members of the Guild for the successful conduct of their Biennial Convention in Lagos, the governor in a statement in Benin City yesterday, urged Adefaye to see his re-endorsement as an opportunity to consolidate his vision of stridently re-positioning the NGE to play a virile role in the nation’s affairs.

Oshiomhole, who extolled the glowing role of the media in the political evolution of Nigeria, said the Guild, led by Adefaye, must play a critical role in steering Africa’s most populous country along the path of genuine development.

“We are eternally grateful to the media for its critical role in weaning the present democracy from the furnace of military dictatorship. The media’s role in the political evolution of Nigeria is also invaluable. The media propelled by the Guild must, therefore, be forthright in defining our path of genuine national development,” he said.

Also hailing the appointment of a former Editor of The Punch, Mr Azu Ishiekwene as managing director, Leadership Newspapers, the governor congratulated the management for making a wise choice in its move to drive the paper on a higher pedestal. Ishiekwene was until recently an executive director, publications of The Punch Newspapers.