President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas Ejezie stated this on Tuesday afternoon as one of the keynote speakers at the News Express 6th Anniversary Lecture and Economic Stakeholders’ Forum theme: Transparency – Bedrock of Sustainable Development which took place at the upscale Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos.

Rollas who spoke on; Transparency and Sustainable Development of the Movie Industry in Nigeria said "Transparency has been our watchword, as can be gleaned from most our programmes, projects, composition of the executive, and team work. This explains why as the president, co-opt my predecessors in most of our engagements".

The AGN president use the opportunity to appeal for more financial support from net-worth Nigerians for AGN Foundation which Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has thrown his weight behind.

AGN Foundation, set up to take care of health needs of veteran celebrities, especially at old age, and also a form of corporate social responsibility for the downtrodden in the society.

This annual programme that has an established trend of bringing together important business and political leaders from across the country, as well as multifarious professionals and influential media stakeholders was chaired by President Emeritus of Aka Ikenga think tank, Chief (Barrister) Goddy Uwazurike.

Speaking on the travails of media in an election period, Goddy Uwazurike said a new threat called Anti-Fake News campaign has crept up and the media is once more under the threat it faces in 1984/1985.

His encouragement to the media: "I encourage all the media men and women not to take any assault lying low but to fight back through the press and the law court".

Other eminent Nigerians developed the Lecture theme from various perspectives include Executive Director of Media Law Centre, Richard Akinnola and Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State, Kehinde Bamigbetan.

Executive Director of Media Law Centre, Richard Akinnola spoke on what he titled: Nigeria: The way forward, said transparency must be entrenched in our national life.

"Nigeria must use whatever resources God has blessed her with to fight poverty. Without transparency, Nigeria cannot aggregate enough resources to fund development. Lack of transparency makes an economy a high risk terrain. High risk economies find it difficult to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDI); they always have a preponderance of portfolio investment. Transparency is required to attract FDI to fund infrastructure in Nigeria".

The Guest Speaker, Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, represented by the AGM Servicom, Chief Patrick Ihekuna, developed the theme from the perspectives of NPA.

One of the highlights of the event was the unveiling of News Express Magazine, jointly performed by Commissioner Bamigbetan and international music icon and business tycoon, Dr Tee Mac Omatshola Iseli (MFR), supported by other dignitaries.

A large crowd of distinguished personalities, professionals, media and Nollywood key players such as Disciplinary Committee Chairman, Chief Remy Ohajianya, Angela Phillips, Arinze Okonkwo, SA, External Events, Cornell Udofia, SA on Conflict Resolution, Tony Akposeri, SA on Online Press, Theresa Moses etc enjoyed thought-provoking presentations spiced with musical performances by a live band.