Governors, media leaders, others Set for 3rd Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture

Prominent political leaders, media professionals, and public figures across Nigeria have confirmed their participation in the third edition of the Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture, an annual event organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) to honour the enduring legacy of the late elder statesman and former Lagos State Governor, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande.

According to a statement jointly signed by NGE President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, the 2025 lecture is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, July 23, at the prestigious Edmark D’Podium International Event Centre, located at 31 Aromire Road by Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos. The event will commence by 10:00 am.

This year’s keynote address will be delivered by Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, on the theme: “Journalism and the Challenges of Nation-Building in a Multi-Ethnic Society.” The lecture will critically examine the role of the media in promoting unity, transparency, and accountability in a complex and diverse national setting.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State will attend as Special Guest of Honour, alongside Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, is expected to grace the occasion as Guest of Honour.

The event will also feature several distinguished personalities as Special Guests, including Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Founder of United Nigeria Airlines, and Dr. Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace Airlines.

Adding to the robust intellectual discourse, a panel of seasoned media professionals will serve as discussants. These include:

• Chief Femi Adesina, former Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity,
• Joseph Adeyeye, Managing Director, Punch Newspapers,
• Stella Din-Jacobs, Director of News, Television Continental (TVC),
• and Mrs. Funke Egbemode, former Commissioner for Information, Osun State.

READ ALSO: Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy Bill Scales Second Reading At Lagos Assembly

The Guild noted that the event will be attended by media proprietors, publishers, editors-in-chief, and managing directors from across the Nigerian media landscape, reinforcing the lecture’s significance as a national platform for reflection and dialogue on journalism’s evolving role in governance and development.

The Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture series, which commenced in 2023, celebrates the exceptional life and service of Alhaji Jakande—a journalist, publisher, and visionary public servant whose tenure as Lagos State Governor left an indelible mark on education, housing, and infrastructure.

The inaugural lecture was delivered by veteran editor and NGE Fellow, Chief Felix Adenaike, while the 2024 edition featured Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman of ThisDay and Arise TV, who spoke on “Rapidly Changing Media Landscape: Survival Strategies.”

The Guild assured that this year’s lecture promises to be “another insightful and impactful engagement,” focused on the media’s potential to influence meaningful nation-building in Nigeria’s plural society