Spurred by the early recourse to partisan activities, media executives and stakeholders this Monday, resolved to chart a new course to strengthen journalism’s role in democratic governance.
The senior journalists made the resolution at a high-level strategic engagement on the theme, “Strengthening 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.
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,” Arogundade said.
Dr. Akin Akingbulu of the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) delivered a rousing welcome address, emphasizing that democracy cannot thrive without a healthy, professional media sector.
“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.”
The forum is part of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Phase 2 project with the main focus being implementation.
According to him, reforms must move from resolutions to resource backed execution and policy-driven transformation.
Under EU funding and support, and through implementing partners such as IPC and CEMESO, several measurable gains have been recorded.
These include, anti-disinformation strategies for reporters, digital storytelling frameworks, more inclusive editorial planning for women and youth coverage and improved adoption of the Media Code of Election Coverage as a newsroom standard.
However, despite these gains, gaps remain as stakeholders lamented that women-focused programming remains largely domestic in scope, sidelining leadership narratives.
Youth voices are often relegated to social media fringes.
Also, Persons with disabilities are still framed through pity rather than empowerment and civic and voter education efforts remain seasonal and insufficient.
Akingbulu urged media leaders to drive what he described as a “non-negotiable content revolution,” calling 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 education a daily staple,” he said.
Other reform areas discussed include legislative reviews of media laws governing public broadcasters such as the NTA and FRCN, and the transformation of these entities from state media to truly public service broadcasters. Discussions also called for an overhaul of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to enhance its autonomy and professionalism.
Key pillars proposed for transformation include: Inclusion: Structural editorial quotas and inclusive broadcast programming; Fact-Checking: Institutional fact-checking desks to combat disinformation; Ethical Journalism: Continuous improvement of professional standards and digital Transformation: Embracing AI tools, crisis simulation drills, and advanced digital storytelling.
Participants equally noted that although the 2011 Freedom of Information Act guarantees media rights, both federal and state control of media houses continue to undermine impartial coverage. The EU and its partners believe a stronger legal and operational environment is needed to ensure journalists can report ethically, fairly, and without fear of reprisal.
“This project is not just about training journalists; it is about embedding higher standards into the very fabric of our media institutions. We’ve equipped our teams—now we must unleash their potential,” Dr. Akingbulu added.
Key Recommendations from the Engagement: Renewed editorial commitment and increased newsroom investment; Emphasis on both pre- and post-election coverage, not just during voting periods; greater use of researchers for evidence based reporting; strengthened editorial gatekeeping and newsroom mentorship and collaboration between legacy media and digital-native platforms.
Others include capacity building for young journalists and reward systems for high performers; Integration of solution journalism, data, and investigative storytelling; editorial quotas to include women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs); the adoption of digital tools and AI-powered fact-checking systems and Institutionalization of ethical best practices in editorial policies.
The event concluded with a unified commitment from media organizations to implement reforms and provide opportunities for journalists trained under the EU-SDGN initiative. Participants called for the translation of training into institutional policy, sustained support, and newsroom accountability.
