President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday officially inaugurated the 21st All Nigerian Editors' Conference at the State House Banquet in Abuja, marking a significant gathering of the nation's media leadership.
Major Media Convergence in Abuja
The prestigious event, organized by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), brought together over 500 editors from print, broadcast, and online platforms across Nigeria. The conference serves as an annual platform for media leaders to examine the state of journalism and its crucial role in democratic governance.
Olusegun Dada, the Special Adviser on Social Media to the President, shared video footage of President Tinubu's arrival at the conference on his X platform account, capturing the moment the President joined top government officials and senior editors.
Conference Theme and Key Objectives
This year's conference carries the theme "Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors" with a sub-theme focusing on "Electoral Integrity and Trust Deficit: What Nigerians Expect in 2027."
According to a joint statement signed by Eze Anaba, NGE President, and Onuoha Ukeh, General Secretary, the conference aims to explore how editors can strengthen democracy, rebuild public trust, and combat misinformation in the build-up to the crucial 2027 general elections.
Distinguished Participants and Programme Highlights
The event attracted an impressive array of dignitaries including the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar, and Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman of Arise News and ThisDay Newspaper, who will both serve as conference chairmen.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma delivered the keynote address, while several other state governors including Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Caleb Muftwang of Plateau, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, and Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano were also in attendance.
Prominent media personalities confirmed for the event included Chief Segun Osoba, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Femi Adesina, Garba Shehu, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji of NEITI, and Mr. Ukpe Anietie, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Senate President.
Security and Media Ethics Focus
The conference continues on its second day at the Nigerian Air Force Conference Centre, where General Lucky Irabor (rtd.), former Chief of Defence Staff, will speak on "Media, Terrorism, and National Security: Addressing the Complexities."
Professor Abiodun Adeniyi, Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies at Baze University, will present a paper addressing contemporary challenges in journalism titled "The Evolving Face of Journalism: Battling Misinformation, AI Disruption, and the Credibility Gap."
The Nigerian Guild of Editors' conference represents one of the most important annual gatherings for the country's media industry, providing a crucial platform for discussing press freedom, media ethics, and the essential role of the Fourth Estate in Nigeria's democratic development.
