Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state Wednesday extolled the values and virtues of responsible journalism which they said the late Lateef Jakande embodied.
They spoke on Wednesday at the Third Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Lagos. The governors tasked the media as critical stakeholders to help in building a better Nigeria
Keynote speaker, Mohammed, who is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum says the media must help in national reconciliation and create national consciousness, that values justice, merit, and shared destiny.
Delivering a lecture on “Journalism and the Challenge of Nation-Building in a Multi-Ethnic Society”, Mohammed, represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Aminu Gamawa, said that journalism’s role in nation-building remained critical.
He said: “Let me be clear: journalism is not just about reporting events. It is about shaping the nation’s soul.
“In a multi-ethnic society like ours, where language, religion, and geography too often define identity, the media must help create national consciousness — a consciousness that values justice, merit, and shared destiny.
“We must not merely be a federation of ethnicities. We must be a nation of citizens.
“This requires cultivating national ethos: values that transcend our differences. respect for life. rule of law. dignity of labour. truth over tribe.
“I dream of a Nigeria where children are not judged by their surname, their state of origin, or their place of worship, but by the content of their character and the strength of their service.
“That dream can become reality—with the right leadership, and with the right media,” he said.
Describing Jakande as a journalist, public servant and patriot, Mohammed said that the lecture was not merely to celebrate a life, but to renew a purpose: the purpose of journalism in the service of nation-building “especially in our richly diverse but often divided society”.
Commending the NGE for sustaining this important tradition, Mohammed applauded the guild’s commitment to dialogue, saying “remembrance is not only noble — it is necessary”.
Expressing the power of the press as immortal, the governor said that the Nigerian press laid the foundation for the nation’s freedom, though it had endured and resisted oppression in many forms.
Mohammed said: “Indeed, there is hardly any profession better suited to train future public servants than journalism.
“For the journalist is trained to listen, to investigate, to challenge power, and above all–to serve the public interest.
“That was the philosophy of Alhaji Lateef Jakande.
“As governor of Lagos State, his journalistic values became governance values: simplicity, honesty, accessibility, and efficiency.
“Jakande governed with the pen still in his heart, even if not in his hand.”
Mohammed, however, noted that some media houses lacked the institutional discipline to be the watchdogs they aspired to be.
“Young journalists are often exploited, poorly trained, and handed a pen without principles.
“You cannot promote ethics in society if your own house is in disorder. Journalists must not only write truth — they must live it.
“The veterans must mentor. The institutions must reform. And we must invest in civic education, media literacy, and training that equips the next generation with not just tools — but with a mission,” Mohammed said.
He challenged the media on the defence of/ the rule of law, demand for credible leadership, championing of national reconciliation, promoting of civic education and language inclusion and housekeeping.
“Our survival as a nation is not optional. It is imperative. Our size gives us leverage.
“Our diversity, properly harnessed, is strength. Our shared history binds us more than it divides.
“Our natural resources can fuel prosperity — if managed with integrity. Let the Nigerian media be the spark of that integrity.
“Here was a man (Jakande) who lived simply, governed wisely, and died with dignity.
“He never used his office to build empires. He built schools. He built houses. He built people.
“Let his life be a reminder that power is not what we hold — it is what we do with what we hold.
“To my colleagues in journalism: remain steadfast. Remain principled. Remain patriotic.
“Even when others falter, let the Nigerian press be remembered as “the last men and women standing.” Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos in their remarks also urged media professionals to uphold democratic values and protect national integrity through responsible journalism.
Abiodun, represented by Commissioner for Information, Alh. Abdulwaheed Odusile, said editors and content creators are today’s national voices shaping Nigeria’s path to progress.
He stated that democracy cannot flourish without a vibrant, responsible, and ethical press committed to public interest and accountability.
He added that the media must renew its dedication to truth, fairness, investigative rigour, and national responsibility in its daily operations.
“Jakande showed that journalists can shape the nation, not merely document its problems,” the governor noted.
He urged journalists to reject sensationalism, political bias, and influence from non-state actors seeking to distort public discourse.
Abiodun acknowledged the profession’s challenges: misinformation, digital upheaval, censorship, and security threats now endanger journalism’s core mission in Nigeria.
He reaffirmed his administration’s support for press freedom and pledged to maintain an enabling environment for media to thrive.
The governor praised editors for defending democratic values, especially during the nation’s military era when press freedoms were under attack.
He said: “Many among you risked lives, faced arrests, and endured detentions to protect liberty and national dignity.
“These sacrifices continue to guide Nigeria along the path of justice, equity, and truth.”
He further praised their commitment to the values Alh. Lateef Jakande stood for throughout his public and journalistic life.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by Commissioner of Information, Gbenga Omotosho, said Nigeria must urgently address fake news and information overload.
He stressed this was crucial as the country seeks visionary leadership, social equity, unity, and sustainable development.
Sanwo-Olu described Jakande as a fearless journalist who used the power of the pen to drive national transformation.
He added: “Jakande turned ideas into action, and dreams into projects that directly touched the lives of ordinary people.”
He noted that governance requires sincerity, discipline, and a people-first mindset, not complex theories or rhetoric.
From free education and low-cost housing to basic healthcare, Jakande’s policies left a lasting legacy in Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu described Jakande’s 1979–1983 tenure as a model for inclusive, people-centred governance in Nigeria. NAN
