Photo. Hon. Bassey Akiba
By: Mandy Park
The conferment of the Media Friendly Award on Rep. Bassey Akiba , Member representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency, on World Broadcast Day 2026 in Calabar stood as a defining testament to principled leadership and open governance.
The event, held at the Metropolitan Hotel, transformed a ceremonial occasion into a powerful civic moment, affirming that transparency and accountability are the bedrock of democratic leadership.
The award succinctly underscored Rep. Akiba’s consistent openness to the media and his readiness to engage questions with clarity and courage. In an era when public officials often retreated behind guarded silences, he chose accessibility, turning encounters with journalists into bridges of trust and platforms for public enlightenment.
Moreover, this honour reaffirmed an enduring principle of democratic governance: that transparency is the lifeblood of public trust, and that access to truthful information is the pathway to an enlightened citizenry. By recognizing the Fourth Estate of the Realm as a vital ally in accountability, the federal lawmaker fortified the pillars of democracy and deepened civic participation as a shared national responsibility.
In his acceptance, Rep. Bassey Akiba, ably represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Asako Eyet, paid glowing tribute to journalists, editors, and media practitioners who labour daily to uphold accuracy, balance, and the public interest. He reaffirmed his commitment to sustaining a healthy relationship between public office and the press, pledging that the bridge between power and the people would be strengthened through dialogue, not weakened by silence.
The Media Friendly Award, witnessed by distinguished members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, crowned more than a moment; it consecrated a message for our time: that leadership shines brightest in the open, listens without fear, and speaks with conscience. The story of this honour will travel through newsrooms and communities as a quiet legend of accountable leadership.
