By Ihechi Enyinnaya
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has called on Nigerian journalists to embrace the noble responsibilities of their profession as catalysts for nation-building, social justice, and national cohesion, especially in Nigeria’s deeply divided multi-ethnic society.
Speaking at the 3rd Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture organized by the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Governor Mohammed paid glowing tribute to the late journalist and former Lagos State governor, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, describing him as a “patriot who governed with the pen still in his heart.”
The lecture, titled “Journalism and the Challenge of Nation-Building in a Multi-Ethnic Society”, served as a clarion call for the Nigerian media to reclaim its place as the moral compass of the nation.
“Journalism is not just about reporting events. It is about shaping the nation’s soul,” the governor declared, invoking the legacies of iconic Nigerian journalists-turned-statesmen like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Herbert Macaulay, Anthony Enahoro, and Sa’adu Zungur.”
Tracing journalism’s historic role in Nigeria’s independence and democratic struggles, Mohammed praised past generations of journalists who resisted colonial and military oppression. He listed newspapers like The Guardian, African Concord, Champion, and The Sunday Magazine, which faced government clampdowns but continued to uphold the truth.
However, he warned that new threats to press freedom in the digital era—such as disinformation, political influence, and AI-generated propaganda—are equally dangerous and demand a renewed ethical commitment.
> “The digital age has democratized speech but also diluted truth,” he noted, adding that “big money, special interests, and political alliances now threaten editorial independence.”
In a passionate address, Governor Mohammed laid out five urgent responsibilities for today’s journalists:
1. Defend the Rule of Law by calling out selective justice.
2. Demand Credible Leadership, focusing on integrity over identity.
3. Champion National Reconciliation through truth-telling.
4. Promote Civic Education and Language Inclusion to foster unity.
5. Clean House Internally, ending exploitation and unprofessional practices in newsrooms.
He called for the institutionalization of mentorship and professional standards in the industry, warning that journalism “cannot promote ethics if its own house is in disorder.”
The governor emphasized the urgency of strengthening national unity and justice, insisting that Nigeria’s survival is not just necessary for its people but critical for Africa and the world.
> “Our diversity, properly harnessed, is strength. Our survival as a nation is not optional — it is imperative,” he stated.
Drawing inspiration from both the late Jakande and his own controversial motion during the 2010 constitutional crisis, Governor Mohammed emphasized that true leadership often means enduring criticism for the sake of unity and progress.
He closed with a powerful reminder to journalists:
“Even when others falter, let the Nigerian press be remembered as the last men and women standing.”