By Okey Muogbo
Media executives have said that vibrant, inclusive and ethical journalism is necessary to enhance Nigeria’s democratic governance.
This, they said is even more critical as the nation prepares for another general election in 2027 with politicians already in the field with both overt and covert political activities.
At a high-level strategic engagement in Abuja themed: “Strengthening Media Professionalism and Collaboration for Democratic Governance in Nigeria,” the media Executives made up of top media leaders, editors, regulators, and development partners collectively agreed that a well-resourced, ethical, and inclusive press is essential to the building of a pluralistic, representative democracy in Nigeria.
One of the media executives, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, urged the media to transcend its current challenges and reclaim its foundational role in democracy.
Arogundade who is the Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC) said that: “The time has come for the media to rise above external pressures and internal complacency, and re-establish its integrity as a democratic pillar.”
in his remarks, Dr. Akin Akingbulu of the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) delivered emphasized that democracy cannot thrive without a healthy, professional media sector.
“A healthy, vibrant media is not a luxury; it is a democratic necessity. We either maintain the status quo or lead the transformation. The choice is ours — and the time is now,” he said.
According to him, reforms must move from resolutions to resource backed execution and policy-driven transformation.
He said that 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”, he also said.
Participants at the programme mentioned areas that need transformation to include: 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.
They also observed 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 meeting also reasoned that a stronger legal and operational environment is needed to ensure journalists can report ethically, fairly, and without fear of reprisal, the executives.
Some of the key recommendations from the Engagement included: 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.
The meeting also recommended 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.
