News
NGE Institutes Annual Memorial Lecture In Honour of Jakande

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has instituted an annual memorial lecture in honour of its pioneer President and former Governor of Lagos State, late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, with the maiden edition taking place in Lagos on August 7, 2023.

In a press statement issued in Lagos on Thursday, and signed by its President, Eze Anaba and the General Secretary, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the professional body of editors in Nigeria, said that its decision was informed by a deliberate programme to nurture a culture of appreciation.
‘’As part of nurturing a culture of appreciation, the NGE is instituting an Annual Lecture in honour of its late pioneer president, Alhaji Jakande, which will interrogate developments affecting the media and society.
‘’It is both a testament to the cherished service rendered by Alhaji Jakande and an acknowledgement of the importance of having such a dialogue for the overall good of our media and our country, Nigeria. The First Annual Lecture is slated for August 7, 2023, at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, at 10am’’, the statement stated.
With the theme ‘’Lateef Jakande: The Man, His Journalism, His Politics’’, a seasoned veteran journalist and Fellow of NGE, Chief Felix Adenaike, is expected to deliver the maiden annual lecture, while former Nigeria Ambassador to Brazil and celebrated columnist, Amb. Patrick Dele Cole, will chair the event.
The Guild added that important personalities, including publishers, state governors, Captains of private sector, journalism students, members of the political class and others, are expected at the event – with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as Special Guest of Honour.
Giving a background to the annual memorial lecture, the editors said that the NGE was born on May 20, 1961 – to serve as an elite club of editors through, which editors – as professional heads of their publications, could advance their professional interests by networking to discuss common challenges and developing relationships with their various audiences in the media itself, government, and professional/trade associations.
‘’Originally named as the Guild of Newspaper Editors of Nigeria, it was later renamed Nigerian Guild of Editors to accommodate colleagues in the broadcast media.
‘’The NGE’s Founding President was Alhaji Lateef Jakande (1929-2021). He had rallied his colleagues to form the body that was conceived to occupy the strategic middle ground of editorial managers between media owners and the general workforce of journalists’’, the statement added.
After discharging ‘’sterling duties’’ to the Nigerian media, the NGE explained that Alhaji Jakande went on to render ‘’commendable service’’ as the first civilian governor of Lagos State, and as federal Minister of Works and Housing.
According to the editors, sixty-two years after, the NGE remains a respected professional body in the media, credible force among professional bodies, and leader in civil society, while Alhaji Lateef Jakande’s name remains treasured – whenever committed service is mentioned in the media and public service.
News
AI in the Newsroom: Tool, Not Talent

By: BABS DARAMOLA
I watched in disbelief today as one of Nigeria’s top national TV stations used AI to voice a news report. Let me be clear: AI has its place in journalism. It can help gather data, fact-check, and streamline production. But reading the news? Delivering it to the public? That’s a strp too far. Presentation must remain human work.
Broadcast journalism is more than a recitation of facts; it is a craft built on experience, judgment, and empathy. Great stations pride themselves on the caliber of their reporters; their pedigree, their training, and their ability to probe beyond the script. These are professionals who have spent years in the field, enduring challenges, asking the hard questions, and ensuring that the public receives information that is accurate, contextualized, and ethically presented. AI can never replicate this.
The danger of using AI to replace human reporters is not hypothetical; it is immediate and tangible. Machines lack intuition, moral judgment, and the ability to read between the lines. They cannot adjust tone to convey urgency, nuance, or empathy. They cannot interview sources in ways that build trust, challenge authority, or uncover truths hidden beneath layers of bureaucracy. They cannot, in short, report with the credibility and humanity that audiences deserve.
Globally, respected outlets -BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, Reuters- have integrated AI as a supporting tool, never as a replacement for journalists. These organizations recognize that technology can enhance reporting but cannot supplant it. Audiences respond to human storytellers because humans bring context, understanding, and accountability. Replacing journalists with algorithms risks turning news into sterile, impersonal content, and diminishes public trust at a time when credible information is most needed.
There is also a deeper concern for the next generation of journalists. Broadcast journalism curricula are carefully designed to teach ethics, storytelling, and professional judgment. By sidelining practitioners in favor of AI, media organizations risk creating a generation of journalists for whom the craft is theoretical rather than practical; a generation unprepared to navigate the moral and practical complexities of reporting.
Beyond education, this trend threatens the very ethos of journalism. Reporting is not merely about speed or efficiency; it is about truth, accountability, and service to the public. Lazy shortcuts erode these principles. The allure of AI must not blind us to the foundational role that human reporters play in democracy and civil society.
Using AI responsibly is innovation. Using it to replace reporters is laziness disguised as progress. The stations involved in this cheap practice must ask itself: are we committed to serving the public with integrity, or are we willing to cheapen our journalism for convenience?
Reporting is human. Let us ensure it remains so.
Babs Daramola is a Lagos-based broadcast journalist with over 35 years of experience on radio and TV.
News
Court to Begin Hearing ADC Leadership Dispute on September 30

The Federal High Court in Abuja is set to commence hearings on September 30 in a case involving a leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The suit, filed by Nafiu Bala, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman, challenges the appointment of former Senate President David Mark as interim National Chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as interim National Secretary.
Respondents in the case include the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.
At Monday’s proceedings, plaintiff’s lawyer Michael Agber informed Justice Emeka Nwite that court documents had been served on Mark and Aregbesola through the ADC’s office. The ADC’s counsel, Shuaib Aruwan (SAN), clarified that he represents only the party, not the individual respondents.
Justice Nwite adjourned the hearing, directing that all respondents be properly served with court processes.
Earlier on September 4, the court denied Nafiu Bala’s request for an immediate injunction against Mark and Aregbesola but ordered that all parties be notified to respond.
Crime
Terrorists Kidnap 40 Worshippers During Dawn Prayers in Zamfara

About 40 worshippers were abducted by suspected terrorists at a mosque in Gidan Turbe village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, during early morning prayers.
The attack reportedly occurred around 5:30 a.m. when gunmen stormed the mosque, surrounded it, and took the worshippers hostage. The captors are said to have taken the victims into nearby forests around the Gohori axis in Tsafe LGA.
This incident has plunged the rural community into fear and despair, especially as local leaders and some armed groups had recently engaged in peace talks aimed at reducing violence during the farming season.
Efforts to obtain confirmation or comment from Zamfara Police authorities were unsuccessful.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent Yazid Abubakar, did not respond to calls or messages seeking information on the abduction.
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