A live radio discussion on WASH 94.9FM on Thursday exposed sharp but nuanced divisions among media stakeholders over a recent directive issued by the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, with leading voices agreeing on the need for ethical standards but warning against ambiguity and potential regulatory overreach.

Speaking during the programme, former Lagos State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Mr Lanre Arogundade, described the NBC’s position as a “mixed bag,” acknowledging its emphasis on professionalism while cautioning that parts of the directive could be interpreted as vague and even intimidating.

Arogundade noted that media practitioners had consistently supported ethical journalism, including avoiding hate speech and promoting conflict-sensitive reporting, particularly during electoral processes. However, he argued that the NBC’s latest statement introduced loosely defined concepts that could create uncertainty within the broadcast space.

According to him, terms such as “inflammatory rhetoric,” “intimidation,” and “bullying” were not clearly defined, raising concerns about how broadcasters might be judged or sanctioned.

“You invite guests onto a programme without knowing exactly what they will say,” he explained. “If a guest makes a comment deemed inflammatory, should the broadcaster be held responsible? These are questions the NBC has not clearly addressed.”

He further warned that even routine journalistic practices—such as asking probing or challenging questions—could be misinterpreted as intimidation under the broad language of the directive.

Arogundade also criticised the NBC for what he described as selective regulatory attention, pointing out the absence of visible action in cases where journalists face threats. He referenced a recent public spat involving a senior government official and a broadcaster, arguing that the commission should not only regulate but also protect media practitioners.

“There is a duty on the regulator to ensure journalists can operate freely within constitutional provisions,” he said, adding that failure to act in such situations weakens confidence in the commission’s neutrality.

On his part, media rights advocate, Edetaen Ojo of Media Rights Agenda, MRA, offered a more balanced perspective, defending the NBC’s authority to issue such guidelines while still echoing concerns about ambiguity and institutional structure.

Ojo stated that the commission acted within its statutory mandate by reminding broadcasters of professional standards, especially in the build-up to elections — a period often marked by heightened misinformation and divisive rhetoric.

“Globally, there is growing concern about hate speech and disinformation, and regulators are under pressure to respond,” he said. “In that context, the NBC’s intervention is understandable and appropriate.”

However, he agreed that the lack of clear definitions for key terms in both the statement and the Nigerian Broadcasting Code left room for subjective interpretation and possible abuse.

Ojo stressed that journalism inherently involved holding power to account, which requires asking difficult questions and demanding answers from public officials—actions that should not be misconstrued as bullying or intimidation.

He also clarified the distinction between factual reporting and opinion-based programming, arguing that while news reporting must remain strictly factual, discussion and analysis programmes naturally accommodated opinions.

“Journalists and broadcasters do not lose their constitutional right to hold and express opinions simply because they are professionals,” he said.

Beyond the immediate concerns, Ojo raised deeper structural issues regarding the independence of the NBC. He pointed out that the commission operated under the supervision of the Minister of Information, a situation he described as problematic.

Citing provisions of the NBC Act, he warned that the Minister’s authority to issue directives could expose the Commission to political influence, particularly if used to suppress dissenting voices in the media.

“If a ruling party is unhappy with a broadcast, there is a risk that the NBC could be used as a tool to enforce compliance,” he said. “That is why, in the long term, we must push for a truly independent regulatory body.”

Both speakers ultimately agreed on the importance of maintaining high ethical standards in broadcasting, especially during politically sensitive periods, but insisted that such regulations must be clear, fair, and free from political interference.

The discussion underscores ongoing tensions between regulation and press freedom in Nigeria’s media landscape, particularly as the country approaches another electoral cycle.

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MRA made the call on Thursday in commemoration of this year’s World Book and Copyright Day.

In a statement issued in Lagos, MRA’s Communications Officer, Mr. Idowu Adewale, stressed that books, whether in print or digital form, remained central to informed citizenship, cultural expression, and the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, even as the world continued to navigate the opportunities and challenges of the digital transformation.

He noted that access to books and educational materials had remained uneven across the country, particularly for underserved and rural communities, pointing out that the high costs of books, limited public library infrastructure, and inadequate digital access have continued to constrain the ability of many Nigerians, especially young people and the poor, to fully participate in the knowledge economy.

At the same time, Adewale said authors, publishers, and other creative professionals faced persistent and increasing challenges in protecting their intellectual property, particularly in the digital environment where piracy, unauthorized reproduction, and weak enforcement mechanisms undermine livelihoods and discourage innovation.

He stressed that the right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas, guaranteed both by the Nigerian Constitution and under international human rights instruments, depended significantly on the availability and accessibility of books and other knowledge resources, adding that “strengthening both access and protection is therefore essential to sustaining democratic discourse and inclusive development.”

Adewale called on the federal and state governments to invest in the revitalization and expansion of the public library systems across the country while leveraging digital and other technological tools and devices to improve access and relevance.

In addition, he said, they should promote policies that supported affordable access to books, including through digital platforms and open access initiatives.

He also urged them to strengthen the enforcement of copyright laws while ensuring that such laws were balanced and did not unduly restrict access to information; support local authors and publishers through grants, incentives, and capacity-building programmes; and encourage the integration of reading culture initiatives into national education policies.

Adewale called on private sector actors, civil society organisations, as well as research and educational institutions to collaborate in promoting reading habits, supporting local content creation, and leveraging technology to expand access to knowledge resources.

The World Book and Copyright Day, established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, celebrates books as powerful tools for education, cultural exchange, and the advancement of freedom of expression.

It also highlights the importance of copyright systems that reward creativity while ensuring that knowledge remains accessible to all.

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​The unit is designed to provide actionable intelligence and deep-tier synthesis on the interlocking systems of kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism that define the current security landscape in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin.

This move marks the official transition of The Insecurity Triad from an analytical framework—developed by Dr. Max Amuchie through his syndicated column, The Sunday Stew—into a fully operational intelligence engine.

​The framework is gaining rapid and wide acceptance among policy experts and security analysts as a definitive tool for reporting and decoding the complexities of insecurity in Nigeria.

Speaking on the launch, Dr. Amuchie, CEO of Sundiata Post and the framework’s Theorist-in-Chief, emphasised that the SPIU represents a “moral and intellectual contract” with a nation in search of clarity.

​”For too long, our response to insecurity has been reactive and fragmented because we viewed kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism as isolated symptoms,” Dr. Amuchie stated, adding “The Insecurity Triad framework proves they are a unified ecosystem. By launching the SPIU, we are moving beyond the ‘what’ of daily headlines to the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of the architecture of violence.”

​Core Mandate of the SPIU

The Sundiata Post Intelligence Unit is strategically mandated to:

• ​Detect Emerging Threat Signals: Systematically track and identify early indicators of insecurity across regions before they escalate into major incidents.
• ​Decode Insecurity Patterns: Apply the Insecurity Triad framework to analyse the interplay of actors, enabling conditions, and societal impacts driving insecurity.
• ​Produce Actionable Intelligence: Generate structured outputs—including Triad Briefings, Situation Reports, and Early Warning Alerts—that go beyond headlines to explain “why” and “what next.”

​*Anticipate Risk Trajectories: Provide forward-looking assessments that help readers, policymakers, and stakeholders understand likely developments.

• ​Strengthen Public Understanding: Bridge the gap between complex security dynamics and public comprehension through clear, evidence-based reporting.
• ​Drive Accountability Through Insight: Highlight systemic failures and governance gaps sustaining insecurity, enabling informed public discourse and institutional response.

​Flagship Product: The SPIU Security Review

The immediate flagship product of the Unit is the SPIU Security Review, a high-impact intelligence brief to be published every Friday. The Review will debut on Friday, 24th April 2026, offering readers a sophisticated breakdown of the week’s security indicators.

​Strategic Partnerships and Data Collaboration

Recognising that robust intelligence is built on the strength of diverse data ecosystems, the SPIU is open to institutional partnerships and cross-sector collaborations. The Unit welcomes engagement with national and international agencies, research organisations, and technology firms, particularly in the areas of geospatial data sharing, predictive analytics, and open-source intelligence, OSINT.

​A New Frontier in Journalism

Dr. Amuchie clarified that the SPIU is not designed to replicate state intelligence structures but to innovate within the media space.

​“We are not a security agency, and we are not trying to be one. We are building something arguably more important—a public intelligence system that is transparent, disciplined, and accountable. Insecurity thrives in confusion. When people cannot see patterns, they mistake persistence for inevitability. Our job is to restore visibility.”

​He further noted that the unit would prioritise clarity over sensationalism: “Fear is not intelligence. Noise is not insight. SPIU will be judged by its ability to make sense—consistently, calmly, and credibly. We are moving from reporting events to interpreting trajectories; from describing violence to understanding its architecture. SPIU is the operational arm of that transition.”

​The Sundiata Post Intelligence Unit becomes effective immediately, with its analytical outputs integrated into daily reporting and special intelligence features.

​Major Theory Release: “The Trinity of State Decay”

Coinciding with the unit’s launch, Dr. Amuchie is set to release his highly anticipated theoretical exposé, “The Trinity of State Decay.” This definitive analysis of Nigeria’s security crisis will be published as a two-part series in his syndicated column, The Sunday Stew. The first installment debuts this Sunday, 26th April 2026, with the concluding part scheduled for Sunday, 3rd May 2026.

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The event, scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., will take place at the Sir Kessington Adebutu Media Resource Centre of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos.

The colloquium is themed: “The decline of human interest journalism in Nigeria.”

While Osoba will serve as the Chairman of the occasion, Owa Haastrup will be the Royal Father of the Day, and Momodu the Keynote Speaker.

The book, with the Chairman/Founder of Nairapoint Finance Limited, Lagos, Funke Otti, as Chief Launcher, is to be reviewed by the Editor of Saturday Tribune, Dr. Lasisi Olagunju.

A former Deputy Governor of Osun State and ex-Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Agbeja-Obada, will serve as the Mother of the Day.

Oshunkeye, who turned 70 on April 20, 2026, has been celebrated by several Nigerians, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The congratulatory message of Tinubu was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on April 20, 2026.

In it, he eulogised Oshunkeye, a former Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Ghana Limited and 2006 CNN/MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year overall winner.

The president rejoiced with him and praised his contributions to the struggle for the restoration of democracy and accountable governance in Nigeria, as well as to the development of journalism in the country.

Osunkeye, a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, served at various times as Editor of Weekend Concord, Senior Associate Editor of TELL Magazine, General Editor at The Sun Group, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Ghana Limited, is now the President/CEO of The Crest Online.

Tinubu “happily notes Oshunkeye’s unrelenting pursuit of truth, not only in Nigeria but across Africa, culminating in his 2006 award as the CNN/Multichoice African Journalist of the Year for his investigative work, Niger’s Graveyard of the Living.”

The president wished him many more years of fruitful service to Nigeria and humanity.

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Convened by Mighty Media Plus, publishers of online newspaper QEDNG, the summit brings together conversations at the intersection of creativity, enterprise and influence, with a focus on strengthening Nigeria’s creative economy.

Reflecting on the inaugural edition, Iyanda said the summit drew participation from respected figures across sectors, including group managing director of SO&U Udeme Ufot as chairman and founder of The Africa Soft Power Group Dr Nkiru Balonwu as keynote speaker, alongside panellists such as filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, founder Mike Dada and executive director of the National Film and Video Censors Board, NFVCB, Dr Shaibu Husseini who contributed to discussions on the direction of the creative economy.

“The first edition showed that there is a strong interest in serious engagement around the creative economy. We had contributions from experienced voices who helped set the tone for the kind of platform we are building,” Iyanda said.

Building on the success of its inaugural edition, the summit continues to expand its scope, attracting a diverse mix of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers and emerging talents.

“This summit is designed as a meeting point for ideas, influence and execution. It is not just about conversations, but about outcomes that strengthen the creative economy,” Iyanda added.

He noted that the timing of the summit is significant as the country’s creative sector continues to evolve.

“Nigeria’s creative sector has grown in visibility, but the structures that support it are still evolving. The QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit is part of the effort to bring clarity, direction and serious engagement to that growth,” he said.

The 2026 edition will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions and curated sessions addressing themes around innovation, growth, funding and the global positioning of Nigerian creative talent.

According to Iyanda, the long-term goal is to build a platform that remains relevant across generations.

“Our goal is to build a platform that remains useful over time, one that documents progress, connects stakeholders and contributes meaningfully to policy and practice,” he said.

Further details on speakers, partners and the full programme will be announced in the coming weeks.

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Agas was announced winner on Wednesday following an independent assessment by an international panel of judges.

She had earlier been named among the five finalists in the category on March 9, after emerging from over 1,500 nominations submitted across 97 countries.

The award recognised her impactful work as a development journalist, using storytelling to amplify the voices of vulnerable and marginalised communities while drawing attention to critical social issues.

In the same category, Karen Sander received an honourable mention, while Kirsty Nancarrow emerged second runner-up and Sharon Swietek was named third runner-up.

Speaking during the presentation, the co-founder of the organisation, Katy Garner, congratulated Agas on the achievement and commended her for her outstanding contributions to the media industry.

The Women Changing the World Global Awards was established to recognise women making significant impact across communities, industries and countries worldwide.

Other award recipients include Sally Grice (Woman in Innovation), Glory Sujitha (Woman in Tech), and Adebola Ogungbadejo (Advocacy Impact Award).

Others are Stella Kikoyo (Gender Empowerment), Eunice Sari (Disability Leadership), and Jessica Hansen (Humanitarian Impact), among others.

Source: NAN

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The post NAN editor wins global media award in Paris appeared first on Frontpageng.

The concern of the guild was expressed on Tuesday in a statement by its president, Mr. Eze Anaba, and the general secretary, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh.

“We consider such a move dangerous and injurious to journalism. It amounts to a direct assault on the principles of press freedom, editorial independence and democratic accountability,” the NGE stated.

It warned that the Nigerian press would not be intimidated in the face of any threat as it would carry out its duties diligently.

It argued that while it acknowledged that the NBC might be motivated by a desire to promote professionalism and uphold ethical standards in broadcasting, the commission’s vague and broadly worded statement was open to multiple interpretations.

Such ambiguity, it stated, created room for misuse, as it might be selectively applied or misinterpreted in ways that unfairly targetted journalists and media organisations carrying out their legitimate duties.

It said the interpretation of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code across News, Current Affairs, and Political Programmes was inherently subjective.

The guild said by positioning itself as the sole arbiter regarding rigorous questioning or appropriate scrutiny, the NBC opened the door to potential abuse.

“This approach risks weaponizing the broadcasting code to induce self-censorship among broadcasters, stifle legitimate journalistic inquiry, and silence critical voices.

“We reiterate that the role of broadcast presenters and journalists, particularly during interviews, is to ask probing questions, challenge inconsistencies, and demand clarity in the public interest. Journalism is not designed to place public officials or interviewees in a comfort zone, but to hold power accountable,” the NGE said.

It posited that as the country moved closer to another election cycle, there was no better time for the media to intensify its watchdog role than now.

The scrutiny of political actors, it reasoned, was essential as “citizens rely on the media for accurate and comprehensive information to make informed decisions and carry out their civic responsibilities.”

That responsibility, it said, demanded that journalists asked tough, even uncomfortable, questions in the public interest.

“While we acknowledge the need for professionalism and civility in broadcasting, we must not lose sight of a fundamental truth: Democracy does not thrive on timid journalism, but on bold, responsible, and fact-driven interrogation of issues and personalities.

“Journalists are not lawbreakers. They are trained professionals guided by enduring ethical standards, including the principle that ‘comment is free, but facts are sacred.’

“We therefore urge regulatory bodies to operate within clearly defined, transparent, and fair frameworks that do not undermine the independence of the media.

“The NBC must demonstrate impartiality and restraint, carefully distinguishing between genuine misconduct and the rightful exercise of journalistic duty.”

The NGE said the Nigerian press would not be intimidated in the face of any threat as it would rmain committed to discharging its duties.

“In the face of such threats, the Nigerian press will not be intimidated. We remain resolute in our commitment to ask tough questions, report facts, and provide analysis without fear or favour,” the NGE declared.

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The book, authored by Editor of TheNewsGuru, TNG, Ediri Oyibo, is scheduled for official unveiling on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, FCT Council, Utako, Abuja at 2:00 pm.

Leading the list of dignitaries is the governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, who will attend as Special Guest of Honour, while former governor of Edo State and two-term Senator, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, will serve as chairman of the occasion.

The book will be reviewed by Dr. Lemmy Ughegbe, Founder and Executive Director of the Make A Difference Initiative, MADI.

The event will also feature the presentation of research findings by the author on the state of journalism in Nigeria, with a focus on challenges faced by journalists in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Other dignitaries expected at the event include Senator Ede Dafinone, Delta Central; Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, Delta South; Senator Ned Nwoko, Delta North; Hon. Benedict Etanabene, Member representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency, and Mr. Mideno Bayagbon, Publisher of TheNewsGuru, TNG.

Others inlcude Dr. Dili Ezughah, Executive Secretary and CEO, Nigerian Press Council, NPC; Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission. NCC, and Comr. Alhassan Yahya Abdul, National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ.

“Journalism NeXt: A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Journalism” explores the transformation of journalism in the digital era, addressing issues such as media ethics, innovation, sustainability, and the evolving role of journalists in a rapidly changing information ecosystem.

Organisers say the event is expected to attract journalists, media entrepreneurs, academics, policymakers, students, and members of the public, providing a platform for robust engagement and networking.

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Comment is free, but facts are sacred -Charles Prestwich Scott.

Let me state from this starting point that I am an accidental journalist, sort of; just like Nasir el-Rufai, ex-governor of Kaduna state, described himself as an accidental civil servant. But let no one mistake the reference to el-Rufai here to mean anything! He is neither friend nor foe!

I set out to be an academician. As a secondary school leaver, my heroes were Marxist scholars Dr. Segun Osoba and Dr. Bala Usman of the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria respectively. Hence my choice of History as a course of study at UNIFE – and what a pleasure to have studied at the feet of our iconic comrade, Dr. Segun Osoba! I passed out at Ife in 1982 with a combined honors degree in History and Political Science.

The two History teachers were the authors of the minority report that emanated from the 1976 Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) inaugurated on October 18, 1975 at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos by the then military Head of State, Gen. Murtala Muhammed.

Known as the “50 wise men”, the CDC was later reduced to 49 members because Chief Obafemi Awolowo declined to participate in the committee headed by legal luminary, Chief FRA Williams. Murtala Muhammed was later assassinated in an abortive coup on February 13, 1976 by Col. Bukar Sukar Dimka and co.

Immediately after my NYSC at the University of Ibadan, I enrolled for the M.SC. in Political Science course in the same university, but the mistake of someone I never knew ensured I did not graduate with my mates. My long essay was sent to the wrong examiner; when this mistake was discovered late in the day, I was sent to the right examiner, a professor and Head of the Political Science department at the University of Ilorin. He scored me an A and also promised me a Graduate Assistantship job in the department.

So I kept going to Ilorin but he kept posting me for reasons I could not fathom, until, one day, his secretary took pity on me and told me point black that Prof. had decided to reserve the two available vacancies for two of his Ijebu kinsmen who were still studying for their own master’s degree!

Was I devastated? Prof. was from an Ishara royal family in Ogun state while I am from Owo in Ondo state – both of us being Yoruba. I understand he passed on a few years ago. May his soul rest in peace! I told my story to a friend and colleague of his some years back and he could only giggle and wonder what came over him!

Each time I remember my UNILORIN experience, I also remember what my role model, Alhaji Nojeem Jimoh, always says about the Yoruba-nation struggle: that it is our being in Nigeria that solidifies and gives meaning to our Yoruba identity. If and when we achieve our goal of an independent Yoruba nation, we shall retreat to what was and begin to see ourselves as Ijebu, Egba, Ekiti, Owo, Egun, Awori, Oyo, Akoko, Ilaje, etc.  O! The ethnic struggles and cut-throat competitions that will ensue! God help us!

I say this not to denigrate or discourage anyone involved in the Yoruba-nation struggle but to sound a note of warning. To be fore-warned, as they say…

I had a flair for writing early. At UNIFE, I took interest in our Marxist groups’ campus newsletters and the first two articles I wrote after my M.SC. graduations were published by the then flagship of the Nigerian media, The Guardian newspapers, when respected Sonala Olumhense was the Editorial Page Editor. I also contributed to the Ibadan-based Sketch newspapers, now defunct. Shortly after, as I was still scurrying everywhere for a lectureship, I got employed as a Senior Reporter by Sketch newspapers in October 1985 and that was how my journalism odyssey began.

I did not study Journalism or Mass Communications within the four walls of any school; I learned on the job. I grew from a reporter who covered the various gamut of reportorial work from the grassroots to the urban centres and cities; from the ‘red light’ districts to the polished exclusive preserves of the elite, traversing virtually every Desk – Politics, Business/Finance, Foreign Affairs, Labor, General Beat, name it.

Today’s deviation from the journalism I knew is massive and I just felt I should express an opinion, since comment is free. I come in peace!

I moved from the Newsroom to the Features department. I handled the Sunday, Saturday, and Daily publications at various levels, up to the editorship. In the giddy days of military dictatorship and the struggle to revalidate the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by MKO Abiola but annulled by the military dictatorship of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, I was also in the trenches like many others. Giving vent to the “guerilla press” genre we had encountered in Marxist literature, I led the task of editing a weekly newspaper published underground by the PUNCH. Like many others, I suffered harassment; was haunted, hunted and detained, narrowly escaping getting martyred.

I had been Chairman, Editorial Board; Deputy Editor-in-Chief and, at some points, a newly-created Advertorial Department was under my purview while the Advert Department itself worked closely with me. I poked my nose in Printing as well as the Circulation departments as occasion demanded. Of course, I was also the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of a newsmagazine, thereby affording me an opportunity to study as well as oversee the technicalities and nuances of that special branch of newspapering.

For decades now, I have maintained columns in respected national newspapers. I also feature regularly as an analyst on radio and television.

Not one, not two persons have said that in other climes, I will qualify as Professor of Practice in Journalism or Mass Communications! The only aspect of the profession that I have been absent from – and deliberately so – is its unionism. I am not a union person. The only time I had participated in any union activities was when my comrade, Lanre Arogundade, contested for the chairmanship position of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists.

I saw quite early how union activities were employed by some reporters as shields and excuses to shirk their duties and responsibilities. I also saw how union leaders employed blackmail to get by and decided against getting involved in union activities – but this is not to say that I see nothing good in union activities. My choice is personal to me – whether right or wrong.

I squirm when union leaders solicitously go cap-in-hand to the very people, agencies and organizations – public and private – that they are mandated by the Constitution to hold accountable to the people. They arrange and give awards – Best this, and Best that – to the very organizations and personalities they are supposed to exercise watchdog functions over. I may be wrong, but I do not think such a watchdog can escape being compromised. How can they avoid being beholden to those from whom they seek favors? For, as they say, he who pays the piper…

Although I also teach Political Science courses in a private university, I earn my living working mainly as a journalist. So I introduce myself as a “journalist” when I am asked about my profession. But is journalism a profession?

The vice-chancellor of a first-generation Nigerian university stared me in the face sometimes ago and said journalism is a vocation and not a profession. He did not mean to denigrate but to draw attention to the fine line that separates professions from vocations. Journalism can be a profession but I think its fore-fathers deliberately chose to remain a vocation or trade union even when others like public relations and teaching were professionalizing. Is it too late for journalism to quit being a vocation/trade union and become a profession? Is such a move even desirable? I leave that as a topic for another day!

But it would appear as if it is the lack of the rigors of professionalism that has made journalism an all-comers affairs. Before university graduates began to stream into the profession, it used to be looked down upon and derided; most of its practitioners being School Certificate or Diploma holders. This is not to say that those early journalists did not prove their mettle but in a society crazy for degrees and titles, there is no way such a perceived “deficiency” would not rub off negatively on the profession and its practitioners.

The advent of social media has not helped matters. These days, all you need to become a journalist is an android phone! Once you can string sentences together – factual or false, with tenses and grammar that do not align – you are a journalist! Who registers journalists? Who regulates the profession? What standards must be met? And who enforces? Some of the criteria for a profession are that it sets and enforces standards and also self-regulates. Does journalism meet this threshold?

If we excuse social media for what it is, what of the traditional media – print and electronic? If we ignore the pretenders to journalism, what of those with known pedigree who, regrettably, brazenly brutalize journalism ethics and, painfully, to wide and wild acclaim? Supposedly well-trained and well-horned journalists assault with relish every known journalism ethics. At best, they are partisan political activists seizing and desecrating the podium of journalism.

Trust me, I see nothing wrong in anyone being a political activist. It is a noble vocation or calling whose services are sorely needed in any democratic society properly so-called. But let such elements openly announce themselves as such and stop masquerading as journalists.

The ethics of journalism are clear and unambiguous. Detach yourself from the issues. Facts are sacred, opinion is free. Listen to and state all sides to an issue. Be fair to all. When in doubt, leave out. Lay the facts bare and allow your audience or readers the freedom to reach their own conclusions. Don’t goad them in this or that direction. Don’t intimidate them. Interviewers must be civil, courteous and respectful, even when vigorously pursuing leads.

Why abuse or exchange words with your guest? The moment you enter into the ring yourself, any claim to objectivity is lost. And journalism is all about objectivity, fairness, and truth. Even columnists and commentators who are allowed a lot of leg-room are expected to still serve their audience “informed commentaries!”

The basic rules which, for ages, have governed journalism are today thrown under the bus by gallivanting political activists masquerading as journalists. Interviewers speak more than their guests! They hardly allow someone they had invited to throw light on an issue the opportunity or liberty to do so! They already have a preconceived idea and are abrasive the way they railroad their guests towards it! Decline and suffer verbal assault!

Today’s deviation from the journalism I knew is massive and I just felt I should express an opinion, since comment is free. I come in peace!

*Bolawole (turnpot@gmail.com 0807 552 5533), former Editor of PUNCH newspapers, Chairman of its Editorial Board and Deputy Editor-in-chief, was also the Managing Director/ Editor-in-chief of the Westerner newsmagazine. He writes the “ON THE LORD’S DAY” column in the Sunday Tribune and “TREASURES” column in the New Telegraph newspapers. He is also a public affairs analyst on radio and television.

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The theme of the lecture which is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at The Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, is “From Resources to Prosperity: How Raw Materials Development, Value Addition and Innovation Can Catalyse Nigeria’s Industrial Renaissance.”

Ike-Muonso is a distinguished natural resource economist and academic leader with over 30 years of expertise in raw material market dynamics, supply chain economics, and research commercialisation.

As the Director General of RMRDC, he sits at the intersection of industry, policy, and academia, driving Nigeria’s transition from a resource-exporting nation to an industrial powerhouse.

Ike-Muonso is the chief architect of the landmark 30% Value-Addition Bill, a transformative legislative mandate requiring local processing of all extracted raw materials prior to export.

This initiative, coupled with his aggressive advocacy for the prohibition of imports for locally abundant resources, is designed to secure Nigeria’s economic sovereignty and fortify domestic industrial linkages.

Under his leadership, the RMRDC is repositioning Nigeria as a central production hub for the African continent.

Prior to his current role, he served as CEO of ValueFronteira Limited, a premier commodities research and data analytics firm. His career is marked by high-level consultancies and strategic partnerships with global institutions, including multilateral organisations (The World Bank, UNDP, European Commission, ECOWAS); development partners (USAID, DFID, FCDO); and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), and academic institutions (Lagos Business School and Edinburgh Business School).

According to a statement in Lagos by Dr. Ray Echebiri, Founder/CEO of Centre for Financial Journalism, organisers of The Bullion Lecture, the 2026 edition of the lecture (10th in the series), will be chaired by Otunba Kelvin Dele Oye, Chairman, Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics and former President of National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).

Jacob Esan, Chief Executive Officer of Geo Fliuds Plc, and Mr. Christian Udechukwu, Commissioner for Industrial Development, Anambra State, will dissect the guest lecturer’s presentation as panelists.

The event will feature the presentation of the book Pathways to Nigeria’s Socio-Economic Transformation.

Edited by Dr. Ray Echebiri, the book is a compilation of the text of The Bullion Lecture from 2016 to 2026.

Expected guests at the lecture include government officials, captains of industry, academics, banking and finance executives, energy sector players, manufacturers, maritime executives, ICT professionals, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of multilateral institutions, media practitioners, members of the public.

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