Gender issues, Media event

Advocating Better Reportage of Women in Public Leadership

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By SDN

Women continue to play important roles in society and, despite persistent stereotypes, biases and emerging challenges in the digital age, many continue to break barriers and contribute meaningfully to leadership and national development.

Yet, despite their potential and contributions to nation-building, women remain insufficiently visible in the media, while their voices are often inadequately amplified. They are also less frequently recognised as decision-makers, authoritative news sources, experts and leaders whose perspectives should shape public discourse.

It was against this backdrop that the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development (EJS Center), in partnership with the International Press Centre (IPC), convened a reflection meeting of key media stakeholders on gender-sensitive reporting and media coverage of women in public leadership.

Held under the theme, “Reporting on Leaders: See Her, Hear Her, Cover Her,” the meeting provided an opportunity for media professionals and other stakeholders to reflect on how the Nigerian media report women, frame their leadership and amplify their voices as leaders and decision-makers. The conversation also focused on practical approaches to improving the representation of women in public leadership, particularly as Nigeria moves towards the 2027 general elections.

One reality stood out from the discussions: considering available electoral data and the current representation of women in political leadership at the national, state and local government levels, greater media visibility and more substantive coverage of women remain important.

According to Noella Ngunyam, Communications Lead at the EJS Center, the meeting was designed to enable participants to engage in a process of reflection and learning by examining existing media coverage and considering what more meaningful reporting of women in public leadership could look like. Challenging participants to interrogate some of the assumptions that shape public perceptions of women leaders, she asked:

“Why is a woman leader’s marriage, children or family life so often part of the story, while the same questions are rarely central to coverage of male leaders?”

She stressed the need to examine the assumptions and biases underlying how women leaders are perceived and portrayed.

For Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre, the challenge goes beyond simply increasing the visibility of women in public life. It also requires reframing how women are presented and recognised as leaders.

“On women’s leadership and participation, gender-sensitive journalism should translate into more rigorous, substantive and impactful reporting of political and electoral processes in paving the way for more women to get in,” he said.

He urged journalists to ensure that women are recognised not merely as subjects of media coverage but “as decision-makers, experts, agenda-setters and holders of power.”

Moderating the meeting, Kathleen Ndongmo, Head of Digital at News Central TV, facilitated discussions on how women public leaders are positioned, framed and recognised in media coverage.

Participants examined several dimensions of reporting, including the centrality given to women in stories, leadership in action, authority and expertise, structural context, language and tone, as well as digital amplification and associated risks.

Newsroom Realities and Women’s Visibility

Sharing experiences on newsroom realities, opportunities and challenges in covering women leaders, panellists identified factors that continue to affect women’s visibility and proposed ways of strengthening their representation in the media.

Toun Okewale Sonaiya, Founder/CEO of Women Radio 91.7FM, represented by Olufunmilayo Bamgbala, challenged journalists to demonstrate greater patience and understanding when engaging women in public leadership. She reflected on how traditional socialisation and stereotypes can shape women’s willingness to speak publicly and engage with the media.

According to her, many women grow up with the notion that they should “be seen, not heard”, which can subsequently affect their confidence and engagement in public life.

She stressed that women leaders also need to understand how the media operate and the processes involved in politics and public communication.

“If women can put down their egos and support each other, they would achieve greatly. As women, sometimes, we are not approachable. On the part of the media, patience and understanding are important. Women should connect with people at the grassroots,” she said.

Motunrayo Alaka, Executive Director of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, emphasised the importance of substantive reporting that examines the actual performance of women in leadership while also holding political institutions accountable. She called for media reportage to hold National Assembly accountable as Senators and House of Representatives members before spotlighting women.

“Being out there as a woman is your first responsibility. Media reportage should hold NASS accountable before spotlighting women. They should know their roles, speak about what they do and this will help the media,” she said. She also identified culture, religion and the different ways boys and girls are socialised as factors affecting women’s participation and visibility.

“We are dealing with issues beyond us. We look at structure and system. A woman should be in position and make a change to make room for other women and empower them,” she added.

Similarly, Anike-Ade Funke Treasure, a gender advocate, linked the relative silence of some women in public leadership to their backgrounds and socialisation, while urging journalists to be more intentional about reporting women.

“Some of these women are quiet; do they really want the noise around them? For the few elected, are we doing enough? Many of the women don’t know the importance of visibility. Journalists should help them to set up communication teams,” she said.

Technology, Online Abuse and Women’s Voices

The discussions also drew attention to a new layer of challenges confronting women in public life as political and public conversations increasingly migrate to digital platforms.

While digital spaces have expanded opportunities for women to exercise their communication rights, they have also exposed women to technology-facilitated gender-based violence, online abuse, harassment and other digital safety risks.

These emerging threats have implications not only for women in public leadership but also for journalists reporting on them in increasingly hostile and polarised digital environments.

A multi-perspective panel on women leaders in public spaces brought together voices from journalism, digital media, feminist media advocacy and women journalists to examine how women leaders are represented across online and offline platforms.

The conversation explored how media coverage could be strengthened to give greater prominence to women’s leadership, expertise, agency, performance and public record, rather than stereotypes or aspects of their personal lives that would ordinarily receive little attention in the coverage of male leaders.

Men as Allies

The meeting also recognised the importance of engaging men as advocates and allies in advancing more inclusive media coverage.

Participants reflected on the role male journalists, editors, media managers and other stakeholders can play in challenging newsroom practices and stereotypes that limit women’s visibility and in creating greater opportunities for women’s voices to be heard.

The meeting ultimately challenged media professionals to move from awareness to deliberate newsroom practice.

Stakeholders were encouraged to prioritise the visibility of women, deliberately seek out women as expert sources, and ensure that women in public leadership are reported not simply because they are women, but as leaders, experts, decision-makers and holders of public responsibility.

As Nigeria approaches another general election in 2027, the message from the reflection was clear: better representation of women in the media requires more than simply increasing the number of stories about women. It requires journalism that sees their leadership, hears their voices and covers their contributions with the same depth, scrutiny and seriousness accorded to other holders of public power.

Special report

Beyond Elections: AFED, CIVICUS advance inclusive governance in Ado-Odo/Ota

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For many citizens, participation in governance often reaches its high point on election day. They queue, cast their ballots and elect representatives. But what happens between one election and the next?

In Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, the African Foundation for Environment and Development (AFED) is helping to demonstrate that inclusive governance must extend beyond the ballot box. With funding support from CIVICUS under the Community Environmental Justice and Civic Action Labs project, AFED is facilitating grassroots concerns to the council chamber, whereby citizens and elected representatives are building new pathways for dialogue, accountability and responsive local governance.

In one of such initiatives, a Citizens–Legislative Dialogue had held in Ota, bringing together 15 elected Local government councillors and representatives of 10 thematic Citizen Groups to strengthen ward-level representation, participatory governance and public service delivery. For the trained community leaders who participated, it was more than another stakeholder meeting. It was an opportunity to take grassroots voices directly to the people elected to represent them, exchange perspectives, ask questions and better understand how the Local Government Legislative Council works.

The legislative delegation was led by the Leader of the House, Hon. Gbadamosi Mutairu, who was represented by the Deputy Leader, Hon. Oseni Lateef Ishola. Representatives of the 10 Citizen Groups brought perspectives from different wards, communities and thematic areas.

From Training to the Dialogue Table

The journey to the dialogue table did not begin that day. It formed part of a broader process through which AFED has been strengthening citizens’ capacity to participate meaningfully in local governance. The project actually began with the mobilisation and selection of 49 women, youth and community leaders from different wards, communities and sectors across Ado-Odo/Ota. The participants, who were organised into thematic groups focusing on health, agriculture, education, electricity, road infrastructure, gender-based violence, women and youth empowerment, conflict prevention, leadership ethics, and media and communications, subsequently went through four intensive three-day training modules covering Environmental Justice; Civic Space and Citizens’ Rights; Governance and Participatory Budgeting; and Advocacy and Strategic Communication.

The Citizens–Legislative Dialogue therefore represented a significant progression—from building citizens’ knowledge and capacity to creating a platform where that knowledge could be put into practice. Before citizens sat face-to-face with their ward councillors, AFED had also engaged the Local Government Management Team and the Executive and Legislative arms of the council, gradually laying the groundwork for a more direct relationship between communities and those who represent them.

Welcoming participants, AFED Executive Director Adeshola Afariogun said the community leaders were deliberately selected from across Ado-Odo/Ota to ensure that different communities and interests were represented in the dialogue.

“We deliberately selected participants from communities across the Local Government to ensure broad grassroots representation,” Afariogun said.

According to him, the engagement was also designed to bring councillors closer to the trained community leaders and the constituencies they represent.

“The dialogue gives councillors an opportunity to meet these community leaders, understand the constituencies and thematic issues they represent, and establish channels for sustained engagement,” he added.

Afariogun also raised concerns about the gender imbalance in the Legislative Council, noting that only one of the 15 councillors present was a woman.

“With only one woman among the 15 councillors here, there is clearly a need to give greater institutional attention to issues affecting women,” he said, advocating the establishment of a Gender-Based Violence Committee within the legislature to provide a dedicated platform for addressing gender-related concerns.

Turning voices into engagement

Opening the interactive session, the facilitator, Oghogho Olabisi, who has experience in similar citizen–legislative engagements with the Lagos State House of Assembly, urged participants to move beyond merely identifying community problems and focus on how citizens could engage their representatives more effectively.

“How can citizens effectively present their concerns to the legislature? How accessible are councillors?” Olabisi asked, challenging both sides to examine their respective roles in making local governance work. Setting the tone for an interactive discussion on improving communication, accessibility and engagement between residents and their ward councillors, the poser quetions were:
“What are the responsibilities of citizens and elected representatives and are the existing communication channels working?”

In response, participants identified community meetings, Area Community Development Committee platforms and WhatsApp groups as important channels for communicating with representatives. They, however, stressed that digital communication should complement—not replace—inclusive ward and community meetings. The Deputy Leader, Hon. Ishola, called for the harmonisation of relevant community communication platforms to improve information sharing and ensure that engagement is not restricted by political affiliation.

The councillors also responded to questions from participants, clarified their legislative responsibilities and explained how community concerns could be channelled to the Legislative Council.

Beyond elections

One message emerged strongly from the dialogue: citizen participation cannot begin and end at the ballot box. Participants agreed that engagement between residents and their elected representatives should become a continuous process through which citizens contribute ideas, raise concerns, monitor public services and participate in community development.

The dialogue ended with a shared commitment to better communication, greater accessibility and sustained collaboration between councillors and residents across Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area. Participants also agreed to use existing community structures and communication platforms to channel grassroots concerns to councillors and the Legislative Council for consideration.

Afariogun thanked the councillors and Citizen Groups for their participation and acknowledged CIVICUS for supporting the initiative. The Citizens–Legislative Dialogue was organised under AFED’s Community Environmental Justice and Civic Action Labs project to strengthen citizen participation, ward-level representation and accountability in local governance.

By Sanmi Falobi, Guest Writer/Executive Editor, Social Devt News

News brief

2027: Support Group aims 5million-man march for Tinubu’s Second Term

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A Support Group, Nigeria Consensus And Awareness For Bola Ahmed Tinubu (NCA-BAT 2027), has unanimously endorsed the second tenure presidential bid of President Tinubu during the 2027 general election.

The National Director on Monitoring, Planning, Logistics and Administration of the group, Hon. Otunba Akin Joye (FCIM), made this known in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital during the stakeholders meeting held to brainstorm on its activities as political activities gather momentum.

Akin Joye said that the Support Group membership, stretches across the six geopolitical zones of the country, noting that the group has embarked on massive deployment of its experts and think tank all over the country to galvanise the populace towards ensuring the total victory of President Tinubu.

He emphasised the preparedness of the group to organise 5 million man march for President Tinubu across the various zones of the country.

According to him, “sequel to the emergency meeting comprising stakeholders across. the six geo-political. zones of the country, we have endorsed the candidacy of Bola Tinubu re-election for 2027.”

The Director said that the endorsement was predicated on the monumental achievements recorded by the federal government in areas of roads construction, National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), healthcare, disbursement of. funds to states and local governments, and payment of gratuities and pensions.

He emphasised that the Support Group is grassroot based, whose objectives among other issues is the reawakening of consciousness of Nigerians and enhanced strategic sensitisation, mobilisation/ awareness creation of the electorate.

“Our organisation cuts across Professors, grassroot mobilisers, artisans, union activists, religious leaders and Islamic clerics who have been praying for divine intervention in the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Meanwhile, Otunba Akin Joye appealed to the National Chairman of APC, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda and National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru (Ph.D) and the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to convene a meeting of Support Groups and give marching orders for the take off of its activities.

According to him, majority of members of the Support Group reside in the rural communities of the country across the six-geo-political zones of the country.

“majority of the voters/electorate reside at the hinterlands and rural communities where door to dóor sensitisation/advocacy is needed,” he noted. He reiterated that President Bola Tinubu deserves to complete his second term in office of eight years and enjoined all hands to be on deck to actualise the objective.

Achiever's Watch

IPC Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade, Assumes IFEX Leadership Roles

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Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), Mr. Lanre Arogundade, has been elected Deputy Convenor of the 13-member Council of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) while also appointed as a member of its Governance Committee.
Mr. Arogundade was first elected to the IFEX Council at its reconvened Annual General Meeting on July 16, 2026.
His election as deputy convenor and governance committee member was unanimously approved at the inaugural meeting of the 2026–2029 IFEX Council on Wednesday, August 5, where Layal Bahnam, Program Manager at the Maharat Foundation, was appointed Convenor and Ruth Kronenburg, Executive Director of Free Press Unlimited, was appointed Treasurer.
As Deputy Convenor, Arogundade will support the Convenor in providing leadership to the Council and, in the Convenor’s absence, undertake responsibilities that include chairing Council and members’ meetings, convening Council committees as required, supporting the implementation of Council decisions, encouraging active participation of Council members, and contributing to the effective governance of the network.
In addition to his responsibilities as Deputy Convenor, Arogundade will serve on the IFEX Governance Committee, where he will contribute to strengthening the network’s governance framework, institutional effectiveness and strategic oversight.
In a statement, the Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Chairman of the IPC Governing Board, and former IFEX Convenor and former Council member, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, congratulated Mr. Arogundade on his new IFEX leadership responsibilities, noting that they come at a defining moment for global efforts to defend press freedom.
“IFEX has long been a leading force in defending free expression and supporting journalists worldwide. At a time of growing threats to media freedom, these appointments will help reinforce the network’s collective advocacy for press freedom and access to information. I wish him a successful and impactful tenure.”
Speaking on the significance of the new roles, Arogundade said:
“To me, they are not mere leadership roles, but more responsibility to contribute to the shaping of the strategic direction of a network whose collective voice has never been more important. I am therefore set to work with the Convenor, fellow Council members and the wider IFEX membership to strengthen the network’s impact and reinforce our collective response to the encumbrances on free speech, independent journalism and access to information.”
Since joining IFEX in 2016, IPC has been part of a global community of more than 100 independent civil society organisations committed to advancing free expression and journalists’ rights.
Established in 1992, the network pursues these goals through advocacy, research, policy engagement, emergency assistance and international solidarity. IFEX also serves on the Media Freedom Coalition’s Consultative Network and the Advisory Network of the Freedom Online Coalition, contributing to international policy discussions on media freedom, digital rights and civic space.

Event announcement

MEDIA EXPERTS, COMMUNICATION RESEARCHERS CONVERGE FOR 6TH AMCRON INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

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Media and communication researchers from across Nigeria and around the world will converge on Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, for the 6th International Academic Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON).

The conference with the theme: “Beyond the Inverted Pyramid Formula: Democracy, the Media, the Politicians and the People in Nigeria’s General Elections,” will hold on Wednesday, 25th to Thursday, 26th November 2026, at the Department of Mass Communication and Media Technology, Lead City University, Ibadan.

With reputable speakers drawn from the academia, industry, public, and private sectors, the hybrid event, offering both physical and virtual participation via Zoom, is open to media practitioners, journalists, politicians, political parties, academics, policy makers, and social researchers, among others.

In a statement, Prof. Eserinune McCarty Mojaye, President of AMCRON, urged stakeholders to attend the event, highlighting the critical importance of exploring the media’s evolving role in political communication, election reporting, and democratic accountability.

Dr. Kehinde Oyesomi, the Director of Networking and Publicity, also encouraged attendance, emphasising the need to examine how strategic communication, digital media, and the political economy of media ownership affect public trust and the integrity of electoral information.
As modern political landscapes shift, the traditional frameworks of reporting are being challenged.

“This conference provides a vital platform for scholars, practitioners, and political umpires to critically examine how the media, politicians, and citizens interact during Nigeria’s general elections. It seeks to interrogate issues surrounding media framing, digital propaganda, fact-checking, and the role of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence in shaping public opinion and national stability,” Oyesomi said.

Bringing together diverse perspectives, the conference aims to foster dialogue, share research findings, and generate actionable insights to protect vulnerable groups, curb online harassment, and promote ethical communication practices that strengthen democratic institutions.

Interested researchers and participants are invited to submit abstracts (250–300 words) by Friday, 31st July 2026 to amcronmail@gmail.com.

Event

AKOD Leads Tree Planting Campaign in Ikeja, Pledges 1,000 Tress to Boost Green Environment

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The Executive Chairman of Ikeja Local Government, Comrade Akeem Olalekan Dauda (AKOD), led the 2026 Lagos State Tree Planting Day exercise in Ikeja, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to environmental sustainability with a pledge to plant 1,000 trees across public spaces within the local government.

The event, held at the frontage of the Ikeja Local Government Secretariat, formed part of the statewide tree planting campaign organised by the Lagos State Government with the theme, “Trees for Lagos: Our City, Our Responsibility.”

Speaking on behalf of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, AKOD, delivering the Governor’s keynote address, called on Lagos residents to move beyond discussions on climate change and embrace practical environmental action through tree planting and conservation.

He stressed that Lagos was demonstrating its commitment by taking concrete steps to restore its green environment.

According to the Governor, rapid urbanisation has resulted in rising temperatures, flash floods and increasing environmental degradation, making tree planting one of the most effective and affordable nature-based solutions to climate change.

He explained that trees improve climate resilience by cooling urban areas, absorbing stormwater to reduce flooding and improving air quality, while also enhancing public health through cleaner air and healthier recreational spaces.

Sanwo-Olu noted that environmental sustainability requires collective action from governments, traditional institutions, community associations, schools, corporate organisations, faith-based bodies, markets and individual residents.

He disclosed that the state had set a target of planting 20,000 trees during the current planting season and revealed that 13,401 trees, representing 67 per cent of the target, had already been planted across Lagos as of June 30, 2026.

The Governor announced that the campaign would continue simultaneously across the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas throughout the rainy season until October to ensure higher survival rates and surpass the state’s planting target.

He, however, emphasised that planting trees alone was not enough.

“Planting is easy; nurturing is leadership. Every tree planted must be protected, watered and preserved to maturity,” he said, urging council chairmen to serve as custodians of trees within their respective jurisdictions in partnership with the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK).

The Governor also encouraged Lagos residents to obtain free seedlings from LASPARK nurseries in Ikorodu and Agege and plant trees in homes, schools, offices, estates and communities.

Following the address, AKOD led members of the Ikeja Local Government Executive Council, officials of the Nigeria Police Force, representatives of LASPARK, officials of the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, lawmakers and other stakeholders in planting 50 trees along the median stretching from the Ikeja Local Government Secretariat through the Police Station, the Directorate of State Services (DSS) office and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor.

Speaking after the exercise, the Chairman announced that Ikeja Local Government would go beyond the state’s campaign by planting 1,000 trees in strategic public spaces across the council area.

He said the initiative forms part of the environmental sustainability pillar of the I.K.E.J.A. Agenda, aimed at creating a cleaner, healthier and climate-resilient local government.

“Our responsibility does not end with planting these trees today. We will ensure they are nurtured to maturity because every surviving tree contributes to cleaner air, reduced heat, improved biodiversity and a healthier environment for our people,” AKOD said.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, described tree planting as a strategic investment in public health, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.

Wahab, who was represented by the Deputy Director (Geology), LASPARK, Mrs Idowu Tolulope commended LASPARK for sustaining the state’s afforestation programme and appreciated private sector organisations, development partners and volunteers whose support has continued to strengthen Lagos State’s environmental sustainability initiatives.

The commissioner also highlighted recent partnerships that produced eco-friendly playgrounds made from recycled materials for public primary schools, describing the projects as as practical examples of sustainable development and circular economy management.

The 2026 Tree Planting Day was observed simultaneously across all the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State as part of efforts to build a greener, cooler, cleaner and flood-resilient megacity.

Media event, Special report

Preparing Tomorrow’s Journalists for a Digital Future at Caleb University

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By Simisola Ogunremi

As artificial intelligence, social media, citizen journalism and digital technologies continue to reshape the media landscape, the future of journalism has become one of the defining conversations of the profession. Newsrooms are adapting to new technologies, audiences are consuming information in unprecedented ways, and journalists are increasingly challenged to balance speed with accuracy, innovation with ethics, and digital engagement with public trust.

Against this backdrop, a programme was convened at Caleb University where media professionals, academics and students interfaced at high-level forum on “Journalism in the Digital Age: The Prospects, Challenges and the Future.” The event, held at the University’s Mass Communication Auditorium on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, provided students with valuable insights into the evolving realities of journalism and the competencies required to succeed in an increasingly digital information ecosystem.

The forum brought together distinguished media practitioners including Mr. Kingsley Ighomwenghian, Managing Editor of Independent Newspapers Limited; Mr. Caleb Ijioma, Executive Director of RoundCheck; and Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Director of the Media Career Development Network. They were joined by the Dean of the College of Communication and Media Studies, Dr. Kayode Okunade; the Head of Department of Mass Communication, Dr. Sunday Ogbonna; Dr. Solomon Oyeleye; Dr. Samson Bello; Dr. Oluwafisayo Ogunyemi; Dr. Charles Adewale; Mrs. Joy Joseph; Mr. Stephen Ajagbe, alongside students, lecturers and journalism enthusiasts.

Giving perspectives on the significance of the engagement, Mrs. Funmi Falobi, lecturer-in-charge and convener of the forum, explained that the forum was intentionally designed to expose students to the rapidly evolving realities of journalism practice and prepare them for careers in a technology-driven media environment. She noted that while technological disruption has transformed the industry, it has also created unprecedented opportunities for innovation, investigative reporting, multimedia storytelling and audience engagement.

According to her, exposing students to experienced practitioners enables them to appreciate the changing demands of the profession while equipping them with the digital competencies, ethical values, critical thinking abilities and verification skills needed to thrive in an increasingly dynamic media ecosystem.

She also noted that the forum was designed to bridge classroom learning with professional practice. She declared that the programme was also aimed at exploring the opportunities, disruptions and ethical responsibilities that define journalism in today’s rapidly evolving digital environment, while equipping aspiring journalists with practical knowledge to navigate an industry undergoing unprecedented transformation.

Setting the tone for the day’s discussions, students of the Department of Mass Communication delivered a series of creative performances that reflected the realities confronting contemporary journalism. A thought-provoking drama by 300-level Journalism students vividly illustrated the dangers posed by misinformation and the indispensable role of investigative journalism in uncovering the truth. Through an engaging storyline, the students demonstrated how false narratives, manipulated content and online propaganda can easily shape public opinion before careful investigation, verification and fact-checking restore the facts.
The performance drew a clear distinction between ethical journalism, anchored on verification and public accountability, and the growing tendency among some online platforms to prioritise speed, virality and sensationalism over accuracy. Reinforcing the central theme of the forum, a spoken-word performance by 200-level students and another drama presentation by 400-level Print Journalism students further explored the responsibilities of journalists in safeguarding truth and strengthening public trust in an increasingly complex information ecosystem.

Delivering the first keynote presentation, Mr. Kingsley Ighomwenghian examined how digital technology has fundamentally altered traditional media business models. He observed that newspapers have historically depended on circulation and advertising revenue, both of which have come under increasing pressure as audiences migrate to digital platforms.

While acknowledging that digital journalism has significantly simplified news distribution, he cautioned that the proliferation of blogs, social media platforms and other online publishers has made it increasingly difficult to safeguard information quality and credibility.

“Digital journalism came to simplify the distribution channel,” he remarked, noting that unlike traditional media organisations, many digital content creators operate outside established editorial and regulatory frameworks.

Turning attention to investigative journalism and fact-checking, Mr. Caleb Ijioma highlighted the growing importance of verification in an era characterised by information overload. He described investigative journalism as a specialised discipline requiring patience, rigorous research and sustained inquiry into issues concealed from public view.

Although investigative reporting and fact-checking share common research techniques, he explained that they serve different purposes. Investigative journalism seeks to uncover hidden wrongdoing, while fact-checking focuses on verifying the accuracy of public claims and information already circulating within the public domain.

He stressed that data has become an indispensable resource for modern journalists, strengthening evidence-based reporting and enhancing public trust.

“The best tool for a fact-checker is your eyes,” he told students, urging them to remain observant, question assumptions, verify independently and uphold professional integrity throughout the reporting process.

Speaking on media practice in the digital era, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin encouraged aspiring journalists to embrace technological innovation without compromising professional ethics. He noted that success in contemporary journalism requires much more than writing ability; it demands digital literacy, multimedia competence, continuous learning and mastery of verification techniques.

He urged students to cultivate habits of responsible information management by verifying content before publication, resisting the temptation to prioritise speed over accuracy, and investing consistently in professional development. According to him, technology should enhance journalism, not diminish its core values of accuracy, fairness and accountability.

The interactive question-and-answer session enabled students to engage the speakers on practical issues confronting journalists, particularly the risks associated with investigative reporting.

Responding to a question on journalist safety, one of the speakers offered advice that resonated across the auditorium: “No story is worth your life.” He recounted an experience involving a sensitive campus investigation in which journalists faced pressure not to publish their findings. To protect those directly involved while ensuring that the public still received the information, the report was eventually published through a journalist outside the campus environment, illustrating the difficult ethical and security decisions investigative journalists sometimes face.

Collectively, the speakers encouraged students to embrace a simple but powerful professional discipline: “Stop. Check. Verify.” They emphasised that in an age where misinformation can spread globally within seconds, the credibility of journalism depends not on who publishes first, but on who publishes accurately.

As the forum concluded, participants departed with a deeper appreciation of both the opportunities and the challenges confronting journalism in the digital age. More importantly, they left with a renewed conviction that despite rapid technological change, the profession’s enduring mission remains unchanged—to pursue the truth, uphold ethical standards, combat misinformation and serve the public interest.

For the next generation of journalists at Caleb University, the message was unmistakable: the future belongs not simply to those who master digital tools, but to those who combine innovation with integrity, technology with responsibility, and speed with accuracy.

… … Enhancing sustainable socio-economic development issues