Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Saturday called on Islamic organisations in the country to join hands with government in dousing religious tension in all parts of the country.

AbdulRazaq made the call while declaring open the second national conference and awards ceremony of the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria in Ilorin, the state capital.

The governor, who was represented by his special assistant on Religion (Islam), Alh Ibrahim Danmaigoro, praised MMWG for partnering with the government in the state to douse religious tension and supporting its developmental agenda.

AbdulRazaq commended the initiators of the group for taking the right step at the right time so as to be relevant in the field of media.

“At this juncture, I must commend the association for responding to national and international issues through the media from time to time in order to engender support and solidarity for government's laudable programmes and sensitive Muslim Ummah on what position to maintain in the interest of peace and stability.

“I want to conclude this address by recognizing the fact that MMWG, here in Kwara State, has been in partnership with the Kwara State government, especially in dousing religious tension in the state and supporting our developmental agenda.

“I urge delegates from various parts of the country attending this national conference to maintain the same stance with their various state governments for sustenance of peace and stability across the country,” the governor stated.

Earlier, the national coordinator of MMWG, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, had said that the core objective of the organisation is,” reacting to issues that bother on welfare and wellbeing of Muslim Ummah, correcting misrepresentation and misinformation about Islam and the Muslims, including challenging outright falsehood peddled against the Muslim faithfuls and Islam by any print or electronic media.”

Abdullahi called on the federal and state governments to remove media houses from economic yielding parastatals and fund them properly to fulfill their social and community-based responsibilities without hindrance.

In his presentation titled: “Redefining The Media Space For Nigeria's Socio- economic Prosperity,” the vice chancellor of Ahman Patigi University, Professor Mahfous Adedimeji, called for adequate remunerations for Nigerian journalists to enable them perform their onerous task without fear or favour.

He enjoined the journalists to imbibe multi-media skills for more effective delivery of their task.

Eminent Nigerians honoured at the event included Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN); founder of AlHikmah University, Ilorin, Chief AbdulRaheem Oladimeji; the chief executive of KAMWIRES Holding Ltd, Alh Kamaru Yusuf; Mal Yusuf Ali (SAN); former chairman, Kwara State Teaching Service Commission, Alhaja Raliat Sanni, and former commissioner for Education in the state, Alhaja Halimat Yusuf.