Speaking at the Appreciation Day for Nigerian News Media Elders on Wednesday in Lagos, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, acknowledged media elders as mentors, role models, and custodians of journalistic excellence.

Omotoso, represented by Mr Kayode Oyekanmi, Director, Strategy Centre of the ministry, charged younger media practitioners to emulate the legacies set by the elders.

He said that while many of the revered elders had retired from active newsroom duties, their influence continued to resonate powerfully across the profession.

“I am proud to say that I am one of the many protegees who have benefitted from your mentorship and wisdom in the noble craft of journalism.

“Personally, I find the idea of an Appreciation Day for our media elders profoundly symbolic, not only for those beginning their careers as journalists, but also for those who have served as mentors, role models, and custodians of journalistic excellence,” Omotoso said.

He described journalism as a calling requiring courage, integrity, fairness, and commitment to truth and public service.

Omotoso said it was heartwarming that while the elders were still present, the professional community was recognising their immense contributions to building an informed and conscious society.

He said the act of gratitude would go a long way in promoting the spirit of patriotism, humility, continuity in the profession.

“Today’s celebration reminds us that journalism is not just a career. It is a lifelong calling, a calling that demands courage, integrity, fairness, and unwavering commitment to truth and public service.

“This appreciation teaches us that journalism at its very core is public trust, one that must always be guided by conscience, fairness, and accuracy.

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“You inspired generations of reporters, editors, and broadcasters to approach their craft with both passion and patriotism.

“Permit me to commend the Journalism Clinic for this thoughtful and noble initiative. Honouring our media elders is not only a celebration of history, but also an investment in our very own future.

“It reminds us that journalism thrives on legacy, mentorship, and integrity, values that remain indispensable to the survival and renaissance of our nation,” Omotoso said.

In his welcome address, the convener of the event, Mr Taiwo Obe, said he was convinced that people must know that Nigerian journalism played a critical role in Nigeria’s struggle for sovereignty and the sustenance of democracy.

Obe, who is the founder of Journalism Clinic, said media practitioners deserved to be celebrated and appreciated, even with fanfare.

One of the elders, Mr Patrick Oke, emphasised the responsibility of broadcasters and writers to carefully consider their words and messages.

Oke said words had significant power to shape lives and influence the mindset of the audience.

He called for a focus on instilling positive values and ideals in the younger generation through media content.

“Media professionals must prioritise building minds over commercial or entertainment purposes, they should encourage regular forums to remind the youth of their responsibility in shaping society positively,” Oke said.

Source: NAN

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The President of IMPCMS and Publisher of The Eagle Online, Dotun Oladipo, made the announcement in a statement issued on Wednesday.

According to Oladipo, the formal commencement of activities followed the completion of all registration formalities and opening of a bank account.

According to the statement, this also followed the approval of the Executive Committee of the IMPCMS, which now has the full compliments of members.

Apart from Oladipo, other members of the Executive Committee include Ugomma Cookey, a member of the Board of the Media Career Development Network, as Vice President; Nkanu Egbe, Publisher of Lagos Metropolitan, as General Secretary; Ijeoma Popoola, Editor with the News Agency of Nigeria, Financial Secretary; and Dolapo Otegbayi, a prominent media and marketing consultant, as Treasurer.

The Ex-Officio Members are media trainer, Taiwo Obe; and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WVL Development Advisers Limited and former Acting Managing Director/CEO of Bank of Industry, Dr. Waheed Olagunju.

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To join the cooperative society, which is for practising journalists and media professionals, would-be members are expected to fill a form, which can be obtained at the secretariat at 1, James Robertson Street, Surulere, Lagos.

For the electronic version of the form, the statement said a WhatsApp message can be sent to: 08023204836, or email to: nkanu.egbe@gmail.com.

The cost of membership was put at N10,000, which is payable into the cooperative society’s account with the United Bank for Africa: Innovative Media Partner Surulere Multipurpose Cooperative Society, with account number 1028258688.

Among the early financial members of the society are the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and Editor of Vanguard Newspaper, Eze Anaba; seasoned broadcaster, Anike-ade Funke Treasure; eminent journalist, Dr. Hope Orivri; Publishers of Oriental News, Chika Izuora and Yemisi Izuora; and Dayo Ojo.

All members of the Executive Committee of the IMPCMS have also become financial members.

The society was formed as a fallout of the Second Nigerian Media Leaders’ Summit held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in 2024, and organised by The Journalism Clinic, founded by Obe.

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Organised in partnership with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, the first leg of the training was held in in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, on November 7, 2022 with 32 female journalists in attendance, predominantly from the southern parts of the country, while the second training which is expected to be attended by 35 female journalists selected from the northern parts of the country, will be held in Abuja on 21 November, 2022.

The specific objective of the media component is to ensure that, “The Media, including New and Social Media, provides fair, accurate, ethical and inclusive coverage of the Electoral Process”.

The overall goal is to “Support the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria with the media (broadcast, print and online media) helping to facilitate the key ingredient of credible elections through engagement and professionalism in coverage and reportage of the electoral processes”.

The IPC initiative aims to position female journalists to deliver impactful, public-interest and investigative reporting of the electoral process especially by incorporating the use of data tools in reporting the electoral process and the elections.

The sessions are targeted to place female journalists at the frontline on elections reporting to write and produce special reports that are professional, inclusive, conflict-sensitive, fact-checked and data driven.

Participants at the training would be required to pitch impactful story ideas for which the resource person shall be providing mentorship guide and editorial assistance.

The Executive Director IPC, Mr. Larne Arogundade, in a statement said that “within the framework of supporting the media by improving the gender stereotyped representations of women’s political participation, the skill-enhancing session for the journalists is imperative to re-direct and prospect opportunities for new impactful and professional reporting of the electoral process while empowering female journalists as agents of change”.

Mrs. Motunrayo Joel, Deputy Editor Africa- Check, Nigeria, Dr. Titi Osuagwu, University of Port- Harcourt, and Taiwo Obe, Founder Journalism Clinic, facilitated the first training in Port-Harcourt, incorporating the topics; “Factual accuracy and combating fake news: The place of fact checking and data use in reporting of 2023 elections”, “Electoral Processes & 2023 Elections: According Priority to Issues of Women and other underrepresented groups” and “Impactful Reporting of Electoral Processes and 2023 Elections: Focusing on Issues & Telling Stories That Matter and Conflict-sensitivity and safety in election reporting.

Mrs. Moji Makanjuola, CEO, International Society of Media in Public Health, David Ajikobi, Nigeria Editor, Africa Check, and Taiwo Obe, Founder Journalism Clinic, will facilitate the upcoming training in Abuja.

IPC plans to train and mentor a total of 140 female journalists drawn from the print, online and broadcast media hubs during the pre and post elections cycles.

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