Vice President Kashim Shettima and Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa are among dignitaries expected to lead discussion on Nigeria’s economy and security at the 2024 Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) conference.

Messrs Shettima and Diri are expected to join other dignitaries to lead conversation on challenges facing the country at the 2024 All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) holding from Nov. 7 to Nov. 9 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa.

The NGE disclosed this in a statement on Sunday by its president, Eze Anaba and the general secretary, Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren.

The forum listed other speakers on the subject matter to include the minister of budget and economic planning, Atiku Bagudu; the minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris and National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

The guild added that Dele Oye, the president of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), will also join the speakers as the 20th edition of ANEC kicks off on Wednesday.

The professional body of editors/media executives, said that the chairman/editor-In-chief, THISDAY/Arise Media Group, Nduka Obaigbena, would be the chairman of the conference.

The guild said that former Ogun State governor, Olusegun Osoba and founder/publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, Sam Amuka would join others to lead conversation on strategies for viable/sustainable media.

According to it, the publisher of BusinessDay, Frank Aigbogun and senior vice chairman/editor-in-chief, Leadership Newspaper Group, Azu Ishiekwene, as well as other media experts would speak on emerging issues in global journalism practice.

The guild added that some critical institutions and non-governmental organisations would also make presentations at the annual conference.

It said that the 2024 ANEC, with the theme “Economic Growth and Development Strategies in Resource-Rich Country’’ would attract over 350 editors and media executives across the country.

The guild said that the exchange rate, inflation and swelling energy prices remained huge concerns to many Nigerians and global community.

‘’To address these economic challenges and achieve development, there is a near consensus among all stakeholders that Nigeria needs to push for a wide-ranging and comprehensible set of policies and strategies that will address both the short-term and long-term issues,” it added.

On media sustainability, it said that there was growing view that media stakeholders should come out with mechanisms to support sustainability in the industry.

‘’It is within this context that this year’s ANEC will focus on strategies and policies aimed at addressing the challenges of the nation’s economy and the media space.

“Key experts, actors and players – from various sectors – will be invited to start conversation on the best possible way out of these challenges,” the NGE said.

The professional body said that the annual conference, which was initiated in 2004, would also feature the induction of 12 new editors.

(NAN)