Minister of Information and National Orientation Idris Mohammed has described the first civilian governor of Lagos state, late Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande(LKJ), as Africa’s pride whose legacies can never be eroded.
The minister also stressed the need for editors to be vigilant in the discharge of their responsibility and duty of informing the society.
Idris said this Tuesday in his remarks at the second Alhaji Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial Lecture in Lagos, organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
The event provided an opportunity for leaders in the industry to chart a road map for the industry, and pointed the way forward.
Represented by the Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali M. Ali, the minister said Jakande’s legacies and his leadership style would remain a source of inspiration to coming generations.
He said: “We must not lose what is real in the horizon, editors have to be more vigilant and learn from the master who we are celebrating today, one of Africa’s greatest.
“Late Lateef Jakande – his ideals, his leadership as a politician was clearly a pacesetter. He deserves deeper respect.”
He commended the NGE for their support to the Tinubu administration, especially in battling fake news.
While acknowledging that Nigeria was no doubt going through trying times, he lauded the NGE leadership for standing against fake news.
He said the Guild had taken its leading space and contributed to the media growth and training while also reshaping the skills of editors.
Idris also lauded the choice of the lead speaker, who is also the Chairman, ThisDay/Arise Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, saying he had the requisite experience to deliver the lecture on the rapidly changing media landscape and survival strategies.
“Over the years, we’ve seen how the media has reinvented itself expanding the frontiers of publishing.
“The guild in the last couple of years has actually taken its rightful place from the time it came into existence. I must commend the leadership of the guild for contributing to media growth,” the minister said.
Also speaking, the immediate past information minister, Lai Mohammed, said Jakande, as the founding president of the guild, fought for the press freedom journalists enjoyed today.
He said: “Jakande practised journalism at the most difficult time, he was fearless and courageous. I’m glad to honour an Icon.”
…It’s time to think – Amuka
Speaking to the challenges in the newspaper industry, Vanguard publisher, Sam Amuka highlighted the efforts that go into producing a newspaper in the digital age, yet remains unsold.
Amuka said: “Producing a newspaper is a tug of war. Most people don’t buy newspapers on the street anymore because by the time the newspaper hits the street, it is already online. There’s one single reason why you don’t find newspapers on the street. It is because there are no vendors like there used to be.
“I was in Warri a few months ago for a funeral, and I didn’t see newspapers. Last week, I spent three days in Ife, Osun State. In those three days, I could not sleep because I was worried. I did not see newspapers on the street.
“The reason we don’t see newspapers on the street is that it is not profitable for the vendor. If he doesn’t sell enough to make some money for himself, he won’t do that job. And how do you sell enough when most people are not reading the paper? Here we are. They say time waits for no one.”
“We have to decide, think about what we can do if we want to get a pass. It takes a lot of work to publish a hardcopy paper. It is stressful. You see people in different sectors, including reporters, journalists and other sections all involved in its production. It takes a lot of work to produce this kind of content, yet we don’t sell it. What is the essence if it is not sold? We must do our serious thinking. How many titles are making money now? We need to engage our minds. We need to do more thinking,” he said.
…Survival strategies
On the way out, the lead speaker, Mr Obaigbena said: “Journalism in Nigeria started 165 years ago today. Iwe Irohin started in 1859. In those 165 years, a lot has changed. Today, we are all seated here. What is the average age of the editors who are here? Most of us here are over 40. Where are the young people who are 30, 40, 50 per cent of the population who are reading, who are engaging, who are on social media? Why are they not among you? How old was Uncle Sam when he was in Daily Times? How old was Peter Enahoro? How old was Ike Nwachukwu? They were all young people in their 20s and 30s.”
He further said: “And today, we say we are in survival mode. That survivor must come from the audience. And your audience inNigeria are young people. Are you engaged with them? Are you working with them? Are they part of your news today? We are in a new world.
“The United States of America has an election in about 100 days. Donald Trump was engaging with the crypto community and telling the world that he’s going to keep part of US reserves in crypto. Then you have a woman who may also make history with her own directions.
“So, that is the world that we are going into, led by one of those two people. How prepared are we if crypto is a new currency? For instance, how will we engage? How will our media present our country? The world is being driven by technology and technology is shaping the media. I heard the lamentation of Uncle Sam that he could not buy his paper again in Ife, Osun State. Yes, but the content he could not buy was already in Ife the night before. People had consumed it.”
…Jakande integrity personified – Anaba
Also speaking, NGE President Eze Anaba described the late veteran journalist as integrity-personified.
Anaba said: “At the inaugural lecture last year, we heard from his colleagues, associates, and students who stated how great he was. We were told how he worked assiduously to create a platform I and others sought to create.
“The current desk of the Guild thinks it’s important to institutionalise a culture of appreciation, which at the same time gives us the institutional memory to know how we got to where we are and how to build on the legacy and accomplishments of the past. The man in whose memory this lecture was instituted lived a principled and professionally impactful life. At large, he devoted his entire professional and political career to advancing the values of liberty and social justice.
“He also exemplified the values of honesty, integrity, courage and fairness. He told the stories of the fathers and held the powerful to account. He demonstrated commitment to our journalistic freedom and long-term survival. When he and his colleagues founded the Guild in 1961, the purpose was to address the issue and to preserve the media data.”
“He and his colleagues lit the torch for us to chart a way forward in addressing our issues today. This quest has led to a determined effort by many to search for contemporary and effective solutions. Besides, the circumstances in which we report, produce, distribute and obtain the news have changed so dramatically. The cost of production has hit the roof. Sales have fallen heavily because of a depressed economy,” Anaba said.