In an era where the digital landscape evolves at breakneck speed, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has issued a rallying cry for journalists to stand firm as the last line of defense against the tidal wave of misinformation. Speaking at the maiden Emporium Leadership Lecture and Awards in Abuja, the Minister, represented by VON Director-General Mallam Jibrin Baba-Ndace, emphasized that in a world dominated by social media “clicks,” the true value of a professional journalist lies in their ability to provide context. He urged media practitioners to steer clear of the reckless trend of ethnic or religious profiling in crime reporting, reminding the nation that criminality has no tribe or creed and that responsible journalism is essential for maintaining our fragile national unity.
The event, which celebrated a decade of Emporium Magazine’s commitment to the craft, served as a powerful reminder that building a media brand in Nigeria is not a short-term race, but a grueling marathon. Mallam Jibrin Baba-Ndace, himself a recipient of a leadership award, praised the magazine’s publisher, Lukman Lale Babalola, for his resilience in an industry often starved of support. He noted that the survival of such a platform is a testament to the fact that, despite the daunting challenges of the digital age, there is still a deep-seated thirst for credible, high-quality journalism that holds power to account rather than simply chasing viral trends.
Representing the National Human Rights Commission, Dr. Anthony Okechukwu Ojukwu underscored the symbiotic relationship between a free press and the health of our democracy. Through his representative, Mrs. Fatimah Agwai, he highlighted that the media is the heartbeat of any democratic society; when the press is responsible, it amplifies the voices of the downtrodden and ensures that the rule of law remains paramount. The message was clear: recognizing and rewarding excellence within the media industry is not just a celebratory gesture, but a necessary step toward inspiring a new generation of patriots to contribute to national development through integrity and hard work.
Grace Ike, the FCT Council Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, echoed these sentiments, labeling the 10th anniversary of Emporium Magazine as a milestone defined by humility and, most importantly, consistency. She noted that while the frantic pace of the internet often makes speed feel more important than truth, the two are not interchangeable. In the eyes of the Union, credibility is the non-negotiable foundation of democracy. Without it, the public square becomes a breeding ground for chaos rather than a space for informed decision-making—a risk that the Nigerian media cannot afford to ignore if it wants to remain relevant in the information age.
Providing a scholarly perspective, communication expert Abdullahi Haruna painted a vivid picture of the “attention economy,” where digital platforms prioritize outrage over truth because outrage acts as a currency for clicks. He poignantly described the smartphone as the “new ballot companion” and social media as the “new public square,” while warning that this democratization of information has, unfortunately, led to the democratization of misinformation. The rise of untrained influencers who prioritize engagement over facts threatens to erode public trust. Haruna warned that if journalists do not reclaim their role as gatekeepers of truth, the very tools that were meant to empower our democracy may ultimately dismantle it.
In his closing remarks, publisher Lukman Lale Babalola reflected on the purpose of the summit: to spark a national dialogue on the future of our media. By gathering policymakers, security experts, and journalists, the event sought to move beyond the shallow allure of digital traffic and return to the roots of journalistic ethics. The unveiling of a commemorative edition and the presentation of awards underscored the evening’s core theme—that despite the noise of the digital era, excellence still matters. As the event concluded, the consensus remained clear: for Nigeria to thrive, its media must remain a beacon of clarity, prioritizing human dignity and national cohesion over the fleeting satisfaction of a digital “like.”