By Ismail Omipidan
“Don’t dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer.”
This inspiring quote by Denis Waitley, the renowned American motivational speaker, writer, and consultant who passed away last month, seems apt in situating the 2025 Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial Lecture, organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
The event, which held on Wednesday in Lagos, provided a platform for editors and other stakeholders to critically examine journalism practice and the challenges of nation-building in a multi-ethnic society like Nigeria. It was the editors’ unique way of honouring the ideals of the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the first civilian governor of Lagos State, a man widely celebrated for accomplishing in four years what many Nigerian governors of today cannot to achieve in eight years.
Sadly, the host governor and one of the late Jakande’s successors, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was invited as the Special Guest of Honour, was noticeably absent at the event, a development that did not sit well with the organisers, who openly expressed their disappointment. Some attendees described the governor’s absence as a slight on the media, particularly given the significance of the occasion and its alignment with the values Jakande stood for.
Setting the ball rolling at the occasion chaired by Professor Lai Olurode, President of the NGE and editor of the Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Eze Anaba, noted that the event was taking place at a time that the nation is still grappling with the essential questions of “justice, unity, and identity in the course of nation building.” He submitted that in responding to these fundamental questions, the role of journalism would certainly come under “intense scrutiny—both for its power and its responsibility.”
He further said “Today’s lecture is not just a conversation about the media; it is part of a broader national dialogue on how we, as journalists, can contribute meaningfully to building a just, inclusive, and cohesive society.
“As journalists, we occupy a unique and strategic position. We have the power to influence narratives, shape public opinion, and promote national values. With Nigeria’s rich diversity and multi-ethnic composition, we have an opportunity—and indeed a duty—to ensure that our reporting and storytelling help push the nation toward becoming a stronger, more united, and progressive society.
“Just a few weeks ago in Enugu, at our biennial convention, we explored how journalism can be deployed to enhance national security and stability. Today’s lecture continues that important conversation. It reflects the commitment of the Nigerian Guild of Editors to ensure that our diversity does not remain a source of division, but instead becomes a foundation for collective growth and shared prosperity.
“Our platforms—whether in print, broadcast, or digital—give us immense power to foster trust in institutions and promote mutual understanding among citizens. We must wield this power with a deep sense of responsibility, professionalism, and integrity.”
On his part, the keynote speaker and Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, described the late Jakande as a journalist, public servant, and patriot, who “lived simply, governed wisely, and died with dignity.”
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Aminu Gamawa, the governor who was sent a 3-man delegation, including his Information Commissioner to the event, opened his lecture with a quote from one of Nigeria’s cerebral and flamboyant Senate Presidents, the late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, who said “If you are emotionally attached to your tribe, religion, or political leanings to the point that Truth and Justice become secondary considerations, your education is useless. Your exposure is useless. If you cannot reason beyond petty sentiments, you are a liability to mankind.”
To the Bauchi Governor, therefore, the Chuba’s position was one of the strongest reasons Nigerian journalists and political leaders must never lean towards their religious or ethnic bends in the discharge of their responsibilities.
He further said: “we gather not merely to celebrate a life, but to renew a purpose: the purpose of journalism in the service of nation-building, especially in our richly diverse but often divided society. Gatherings like this must be encouraged and institutionalised, for they allow us to learn from our past, reflect on our present, and chart a course for our future.
According to him, journalism, is one profession that is best suited to train public servants. “Indeed, there is hardly any profession better suited to train future public servants than journalism for the journalist is trained to listen, to investigate, to challenge power, and above all — to serve the public interest.
“That was the philosophy of Alhaji Lateef Jakande. As Governor of Lagos State, his journalistic values became governance values: simplicity, honesty, accessibility, and efficiency. Jakande governed with the pen still in his heart, even if not in his hand.
“Even when he served under General Abacha — a decision that drew sharp criticism and even scorn — he endured it quietly, out of a deep belief in unity, nationhood, and the possibility of service in difficult circumstances. That experience is a reminder to all of us that sometimes, history judges not by the noise of the crowd, but by the integrity of the motive.
“I can relate to that experience personally. In 2010, I moved the Doctrine of Necessity motion in the Senate — a decision that allowed Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to assume presidential powers at a moment of constitutional uncertainty. The backlash was fierce. My constituents accused me of betrayal. Petitions to recall me circulated like wildfire. Yet I knew that the path of nation-building often runs through the terrain of misunderstanding. In that moment, I understood something deeper about Alhaji Jakande’s own journey,” Senator Mohammed, who was a state editor in charge of Benue State at the defunct Democrat newspaper, added.
Recollecting the resilience nature of the country’s media in enduring and resisting tyranny in different forms during the colonial and military regimes, the governor said, “Today, the threats are different but no less insidious. The digital age has opened the floodgates of information — and misinformation. Social media has democratised speech but also diluted truth. Artificial intelligence now creates headlines, but who checks the heart behind them?
“And then, there is the corrosive influence of big money. Politicians, corporations, and special interests now compete to own narratives, not just policies. Editorial independence is constantly under siege, and the temptation to trade truth for access is greater than ever.
“Yet the challenge is not only external. It is also internal. Some media houses lack the institutional discipline to be the watchdogs they aspire to be. Young journalists are often exploited, poorly trained, and handed a pen without principles. You cannot promote ethics in society if your own house is in disorder. Journalists must not only write truth — they must live it.
“The veterans must mentor. The institutions must reform. And we must invest in civic education, media literacy, and training that equips the next generation with not just tools — but with a mission.
“Let me be clear: journalism is not just about reporting events. It is about shaping the nation’s soul. In a multi-ethnic society like ours, where language, religion, and geography too often define identity, the media must help create national consciousness — a consciousness that values justice, merit, and shared destiny.
“We must not merely be a federation of ethnicities. We must be a nation of citizens. This requires cultivating national ethos: values that transcend our differences. Respect for life, rule of law, dignity of labour, and truth over tribe.”
Drawing inspiration from the famous Martin Luther King Jr. “I have a dream…” Senator Mohammed said “Permit me to localise that dream: I dream of a Nigeria where children are not judged by their surname, their state of origin, or their place of worship, but by the content of their character and the strength of their service. That dream can become reality — with the right leadership, and with the right media.
“Let me cite an example from our own experience in Bauchi State. Despite our diverse population — religiously, ethnically, linguistically — Bauchi remains one of the most peaceful and united states in Nigeria. This is not by chance. It is the result of deliberate, inclusive policies that reflect our belief in fairness, merit, and unity. We appoint based on ability, not ancestry. We build schools and health centres where they are needed, not where they are politically convenient. Our traditional and religious leaders are empowered to act as bridges, not barricades.
“The media must fix its own broken windows. Exploiting interns, hoarding opportunities, turning a blind eye to corruption within — these must stop. The pen must remain clean to remain powerful.”
To him, the country’s survival as a nation is not an option, adding that “it is imperative because our size gives us leverage. Our diversity, properly harnessed, is strength. Our shared history binds us more than it divides. Our natural resources can fuel prosperity — if managed with integrity,” and urged the Nigerian media to be the spark of that integrity.
“Let his (Jakande) life be a reminder that power is not what we hold — it is what we do with what we hold. To my colleagues in journalism: remain steadfast. Remain principled. Remain patriotic. Even when others falter, let the Nigerian press be remembered as “the last men and women standing.”
At the end of his presentation, the four discussants, applauded the presentation and suggested that the late Jakande’s exemplary leadership style as a journalist and political leader, should be adopted to save the country and the media industry. The discussants were: former Managing Director and Editor-In-Chief of The Guardian, Mr Emeka Izeze; former Presidential Spokesman, Chief Femi Adesina; former NGE President, Mrs. Funke Egbemode; and Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of Punch Newspapers, Mr. Joseph Adeyeye, who specifically suggested the need for the government to find a means of supporting the media industry to enable it provide adequate training for their would-be senior managers and to grant it some form of subsidies. The issue of granting of subsidies drew the attention of the chairman of the occasion, Prof. Olurode, who asked if such gesture will not affect the independence of the media.
Other speakers at the event were: Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy , Mr Bayo Onanuga; former Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian, Mr Lade Bonuola; former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu; Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Special Adviser on Media to Ogun State Governor, Mr Kayode Akinmade, who represented Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; and Mr Mike Effiong, who represented Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, with Mr. Onanuga, admonishing journalists to shun fake news, using the recent forged letter, purported to have emanated from IBB’s son, Mohammed Babangida, rejecting his recent appointment as basis for his admonition, just as he went memory lane on how the late Jakande contributed to the survival of his (Onanuga) media house.
The event was attended by students from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos, Lagos State University (LASU), journalists, the late Jakande’s widow, Alhaja Abimbola Jakande, his son, Seyi and other family members including Mrs. Modupe Jemibewon.
