Media Executives Resolve to Strengthen Nigerian Press for Democratic Governance
Oru Leonard
In a bid to reposition the Nigerian press for effective democratic governance, media executives and stakeholders have charted a new course aimed at strengthening journalism’s role in the country’s democracy. The resolution was made at a high-level strategic engagement in Abuja, themed “Strengthening Media Professionalism and Collaboration for Democratic Governance in Nigeria.”
In opening remarks Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), urged the media to transcend its current challenges and reclaim its foundational role in democracy. “The time has come for the media to rise above external pressures and internal complacency, and re-establish its integrity as a democratic pillar,” he urged.
Dr. Akin Akingbulu of the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), in welcome address, emphasized that democracy cannot thrive without a healthy, professional media sector.
He said, “A healthy, vibrant media is not a luxury; it is a democratic necessity,” Akingbulu said. “We either maintain the status quo or lead the transformation. The choice is ours — and the time is now.”
Akingbulu urged media leaders to drive a non-negotiable content revolution, as he called for a re-engineering of newsroom programming DNA. “We must transform women’s content into national conversations, amplify youth voices, elevate PWDs as agents of change, and make civic
The event emphasized the importance of a well-resourced, ethical, and inclusive press in building a pluralistic, representative democracy in Nigeria.
Participants noted that the media faces challenges such as external pressures, internal complacency, and inadequate resources, which undermine its effectiveness.
The forum proposed several reforms, including:
-Structural editorial quotas and inclusive broadcast programming to promote diversity and representation.
– Institutional fact-checking desks to combat disinformation and promote accuracy.
– Continuous improvement of professional standards and digital transformation.
– Review of media laws governing public broadcasters to enhance their autonomy and professionalism.
– The reforms aim to promote ethical journalism, inclusivity, and fact-based reporting, ultimately enhancing the media’s role in democratic governance.
– The initiative seeks to build the capacity of media institutions, including newsrooms, to produce high-quality, evidence-based reporting.
– The event fostered collaboration and partnerships among media stakeholders, including legacy media and digital-native platforms, to drive media reform and promote democratic governance.
The engagement was organized under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Phase 2 project, which aims to strengthen media professionalism and collaboration for democratic governance in Nigeria.
The event brought together top media leaders, editors, regulators, and development partners who collectively agreed that a well-resourced, ethical, and inclusive press is essential to the building of a pluralistic, representative democracy in Nigeria.
