Lagos, Nigeria [23.07.25] – The media, once the bedrock of democracy and national development, is now grappling with unprecedented pressures that threaten its very existence. From dwindling readership to the disruptive force of social media, journalism stands at a crossroads—adapt or face extinction.
This pressing issue took center stage at this year’s Editors Guild of Nigeria organized Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial Lecture 2025, with the theme:Journalism And The Challenges òf Nation Building In A Multi-Ethnic Society and where His Excellency, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad, CON, of Bauchi State (ably represented), was the keynote speaker at the Edmark D’Podium, Ikeja, Lagos.
Representing the governor, a seasoned journalist himself, his envoy delivered a compelling discourse on the media’s evolving role in Nigeria’s multi-ethnic, multi-religious landscape.
A Profession Under Threat
Journalism, one of Nigeria’s oldest and most revered professions, played a pivotal role in the nation’s independence struggle and democratic evolution. Journalists have made immense sacrifices, often at great personal risk, to uphold truth and accountability. Yet, today, the profession faces an existential crisis.
The digital revolution, particularly the rise of social media, has democratized information dissemination. Citizens now access real-time updates directly from their smartphones, bypassing traditional newspapers and television. This shift has eroded revenue streams, leaving many media houses struggling to survive.
Survival in the Age of Disruption
The question then arises: “How can journalism withstand these challenges?” The answer lies not in resistance but in adaptation.
The governor’s representative emphasized that journalists must embrace digital transformation as an opportunity rather than a threat. Leveraging tools like artificial intelligence, data journalism, and social media engagement can enhance reporting efficiency and reach. While technology can automate certain tasks, the human element—critical thinking, investigative rigor, and ethical judgment—remains irreplaceable.
When asked while addressing journalists at the event that the media is under heavy pressure or under stress and may likely go out of extinction and how the situation can be salvaged, the Governor’s representative said:
“Well, thank you so much. I am very delighted to be here today to represent my boss, His Excellency Sonata Abola Abdul Kadir Muhammad, CON, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, who is the keynote speaker at this year’s Remembrance Lecture of Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the former civilian governor of Lagos State.
“This is a very precious moment, precious occasion. It is a honor to someone who has contributed tremendously towards the development of Lagos State and Nigeria at large. His Excellency, the governor of Bauchi State, being a journalist himself, is very much concerned about the development and the progress of journalism in Nigeria and the role of journalists towards national development.
“If you followed the theme of his presentation, the paper dwelled on the role of the media in promoting unity and development and nation building in a country that is multi-ethnic, multi-religious and very populous like Nigeria, journalism as a profession is one of the oldest, and it has contributed tremendously towards our independence and towards our fight for democracy in Nigeria.
“Journalists across the country have made serious sacrifices for us to be where we are today but globalization and other forces are putting a lot of pressure on the population in particular because if you look at the internet, it has democratized the way information is being shared. It has democratized so many things to the extent that for a journalist to be what he’s sold today, For a journalist to be what he should today, for a journalist to be a successful journalist, he needs to do much more than was expected before now. So yes, there are serious threats caused by social media. People no longer read the newspapers as they used to do or no longer watch TV as they used to do with their phones. They can access real-life information and real-life coverage of events and activities.
“So how can journalism withstand these new emerging threats and challenges? I think they should embrace these changes as opportunities. They can adjust and by adjusting they can deploy internet, they can deploy social media, they can deploy artificial intelligence towards enhancing their work. Machine can never replace human beings in total. There are some components of the work that human beings do that machines cannot do now. But they cannot replace human beings.”
A Call to Action
The lecture also touched on the political dynamics influencing media sustainability. With the governor being a prominent figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the discussion briefly veered into the recent defections of PDP governors to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Such political shifts further underscore the media’s crucial role in holding power to account.
As the event concluded, the message was clear: Journalism must evolve, innovate, and reclaim its relevance in a rapidly changing world. The survival of the Fourth Estate depends on its ability to harness new technologies while staying true to its core mission—truth, transparency, and nation-building.
For Nigeria’s media, the time to act is now.
