Former Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr Oluwatoyin Madein, has warned that Nigeria’s democracy risks manipulation if the press fails to defend truth and rebuild public trust.
Madein gave the warning on Thursday while delivering the keynote address at the 50th anniversary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council, at Iwe Irohin Press Centre, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.
The anniversary lecture was themed: “Truth, Trust and the Press: Protecting Democratic Choice and Rebuilding Public Trust in Journalism.”
She described the celebration as a jubilee of courage and a renewal of journalists’ commitment to truth, noting that Ogun was the cradle of Nigerian journalism.
Madein recalled that Iwe Irohin was founded in 1859 by Rev. Henry Townsend, adding that the state had produced prominent media figures, including Aremo Olusegun Osoba and the late Chief MKO Abiola.
She noted that Abiola’s June 12 struggle remained central to Nigeria’s Democracy Day, but warned that journalism was facing a critical test as falsehood increasingly travelled faster than truth.
“Artificial intelligence offers remarkable tools, but it can also manufacture convincing deception. Social platforms reward heat, haste and outrage; journalism must still choose light, patience and verification,” she said.
Madein said the press must not usurp the roles of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the courts or the electorate, but should equip citizens to make informed choices.
She warned journalists against promoting vote-buying, fake endorsements and deepfakes, as well as declaring election winners before lawful announcements.
Also speaking, Gov. Dapo Abiodun, represented by his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Mr Kayode Akinmade, congratulated the union on its 50 years of commitment to democracy and development.
Abiodun described the media as a partner in his administration’s development drive and urged journalists to uphold fairness, balance and accuracy in their reportage.
“Remain fair and unbiased in your reportage. Where there are disagreements, let the facts speak. Where there are allegations, let verification precede publication,” he said.
The Commissioner of Police in Ogun, Mr Bode Ojajuni, who spoke during a panel session, attributed some challenges facing journalism to weak institutions.
Ojajuni called on regulatory bodies to enforce sanctions for violations of professional guidelines, while advocating continuous training and retraining for journalists.
He also expressed concern that the growth of social media had encouraged people without professional training to claim the identity of journalists.
Earlier, the Chairman of NUJ in Ogun, Mr Wale Olanrewaju, said the anniversary was an opportunity to address an existential crisis threatening the profession, beyond celebrating its achievements.
Olanrewaju traced the state’s journalism heritage from Townsend’s Iwe Irohin in 1859 to the legacies of Obafemi Awolowo and Bisi Onabanjo.
He, however, said economic hardship, political capture and disinformation had weakened the media, warning that financially distressed newsrooms could struggle to hold public officials accountable.
“Unpaid reporters and financially starved newsrooms cannot hold power accountable, reducing journalism to brown envelope sycophancy,” he said.
Olanrewaju urged journalists to prioritise truth over access and editorial independence over survival.
