By Babs Daramola

For decades, a quiet question has stirred in Nigeria’s media landscape: what does it truly mean to be a journalist?

Is it the newsroom, the microphone, or perhaps something in between?

This conversation spans those who honed their craft behind the scenes and those who connect with audiences on air.

As the profession evolves globally, exploring these different paths offers a fascinating glimpse into the many faces of journalism today.

The NUJ, as Nigeria’s foremost professional body for journalists, has naturally found itself at the center of this conversation.

Its membership guidelines and standards reflect a long-standing commitment to professional rigor—but they also raise interesting questions about how journalism is defined today.

Exploring the NUJ’s role offers a window into how traditional paths intersect with modern practice, and how the profession continues to recognize both experience and innovation in telling the country’s stories.

One of the most enduring points of discussion lies between those who “grew up in the newsroom” and those who made their mark on air.

Newsroom-trained journalists have long been celebrated for their investigative rigor and adherence to editorial processes, while broadcasters bring immediacy, connection, and often a deep understanding of current affairs directly to the audience.

Both paths contribute to the media landscape in meaningful ways, yet the conversation around recognition and professional legitimacy continues to spark curiosity – and sometimes controversy – within the industry.

I must admit that I too once leaned toward a narrow definition.

I argued that only those directly involved in news gathering and dissemination should rightly be called journalists.

My point, however, was not to dismiss broadcasting.

A disc jockey, an on-air personality, or a presenter of purely entertainment content is not a journalist by default.

But once a broadcaster ventures into news, current affairs, or issue-driven programming; once they engage the public in conversations that inform, interrogate power, and shape opinion, they are squarely within journalism, regardless of whether they passed through a newsroom.

As someone who has spent nearly 37 years in the profession, working in newsrooms, programme production rooms, managing broadcast outfits, and training upcoming broadcasters, I speak not as an outsider but as one deeply immersed in the craft.

Over these decades, I have seen first-hand how broadcasters and programme hosts, even those without formal newsroom training, have risen to handle current affairs with a depth and rigour that match, and sometimes surpass, their newsroom-trained colleagues.

My vantage point convinces me that the NUJ’s narrow criteria exclude valuable voices that have enriched Nigerian journalism.

History proves it: you don’t need a newsroom or a journalism degree to shape public discourse.

Larry King became a global icon with his probing interviews; Oprah Winfrey turned daytime TV into a platform for national reflection; Trevor Noah transformed comedy into incisive political analysis.

In one state, a media aide to a deputy governor was barred by the local NUJ chapter from using the title of Chief Press Secretary simply because she was not a card-carrying member of the Union

In Nigeria, Funmi Iyanda’s New Dawn fearlessly interrogated social issues, Mo Abudu’s Moments with Mo and EbonyLife TV elevated African narratives, and Ebuka Obi-Uchendu has grilled political leaders on Rubbin’ Minds with unmatched precision.

Bisi Olatilo’s multilingual presentations chronicled Nigeria’s political, social, and cultural life for decades.

In sports, Ernest Okonkwo, who never worked in a newsroom, electrified Nigerian radio with football commentary; John Motson commanded global football coverage; and Charles Anazodo, armed with an English degree but no newsroom training, became a defining voice on SuperSport Nigeria and SportZone.

None were newsroom-bred, yet all embodied journalism’s hallmarks: rigour, relevance, and undeniable public impact.

For anyone to denounce these iconic personalities as journalists is simply criminal!

The consequences of NUJ’s rigid posture are not merely theoretical.

In one state, a media aide to a deputy governor was barred by the local NUJ chapter from using the title of Chief Press Secretary simply because she was not a card-carrying member of the Union.

Her professional affiliation lay instead with the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union (RATTAWU).

She eventually settled for the title of Director of Communications. That kind of trivial gatekeeping does little to promote professionalism; instead, it hurts developmental journalism by erecting artificial barriers where none should exist.

Some defenders of the NUJ argue that its restrictive membership posture is a way of ensuring standards among practitioners. But this line of reasoning is weak and unacademic.

How does limiting membership to those with newsroom training or formal certificates guarantee professional standards?

Doctors and lawyers are licensed because their trades rest on highly technical knowledge with life-or-death consequences. Journalism is different.

It is not about certificates or regulatory seals; it is about truth-telling, verification, accountability, and informing society.

Indeed, UNESCO has consistently defined journalism not by degrees but by practice: “the activity of gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting news and information.”

The African Union’s Windhoek+30 Declaration on Information as a Public Good (2021) affirms the same spirit, urging states and institutions to recognize diverse media actors in advancing democracy.

And as Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel remind us in their influential book The Elements of Journalism, the profession is ultimately defined by enduring principles: verification, independence, and a commitment to citizens; not by a union card or a newsroom pedigree.

Across the world, professional associations in journalism tend to be more inclusive.

The U.S. Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) admits practitioners across the broad spectrum of news and current affairs, whether they are print reporters, online editors, talk-show hosts, or multimedia producers.

The UK’s National Union of Journalists (NUJ) similarly accommodates a wide variety of roles, from broadcasters to photojournalists.

Even within Africa, countries like South Africa and Kenya run relatively liberal systems where unions and associations recognize the diversity of the modern media space, instead of reducing journalism to one path. Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind.

What our own NUJ needs now is a rethink. It must broaden its tent, not narrow it. It must recognize that journalism is not a one-size-fits-all craft tied to old newsroom hierarchies.

The media landscape has expanded: citizen journalists, digital storytellers, and broadcasters who shape public discourse all fall within journalism’s wider orbit. To continue excluding them is to deny reality.

The Union has played a vital role in defending press freedom in Nigeria’s history, and it can play an even greater role in shaping the future.

But to do so, it must align itself with international best practices and with the lived realities of the profession. Journalism thrives not on exclusion but on relevance, adaptability, and fidelity to truth.

For the NUJ, the choice is clear: evolve into a forward-looking institution that embraces diversity in practice, or risk irrelevance in a world that has already moved on.

∆ Babs Daramola is a Lagos-based broadcast journalist with nearly four decades of experience in newsrooms, programme production, management of broadcast outlets, and training of upcoming media professionals.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari died abroad, far from home, in a foreign hospital. His death, while solemn, is also symbolic.

It reflects a painful irony: the same country whose leaders refuse to invest in its healthcare system continues to starve its own healers.

Nigerian doctors and health professionals, the true lifeblood of the nation, are underpaid, overworked, and systemically ignored.

While political elites escape abroad for care, those who remain behind to hold the fragile system together are left to struggle in silence with little support and even less dignity.

The Nigerian health system is in a state of emergency, crippled by gross underfunding and a mass exodus of medical professionals.

While public hospitals deteriorate, political elites indulge in medical tourism, flying abroad for treatments that could be managed locally.

This is an insult to every Nigerian who has no choice but to rely on poorly funded public hospitals.

The masses bear the brunt of this collapse, facing endless queues, dilapidated infrastructure, and overworked doctors who themselves are victims of a broken system.

The “Japa” syndrome has led to the departure of thousands of our best healthcare providers due to inadequate pay, poor welfare, and lack of adequate security.

Those who remain are stretched thin and overwhelmed, expected to perform miracles under frustrating conditions.

Moreover, beyond exhaustion, many doctors feel frustrated, undervalued, and financially insecure.

A frustrated doctor can inadvertently become a dangerous one, not out of intent, but because the environment fosters mistakes, burnout, and emotional detachment.

Medicine may be a humanitarian profession, but using that to justify poor pay and welfare neglect is moral injustice at its worst.

The poor pay has forced many medical professionals to work at multiple hospitals, often to the detriment of their health and family.

Health workers in Nigeria deserve much more: better pay, housing, and car loans, opportunities for professional development, and mental health support.

These are not luxuries, they are critical investments in the nation’s survival and well-being. The masses, civil society organizations, and religious bodies should join the advocacy for this.

No country mistreats its health workers and thrives. A nation that cannot protect its healers is ultimately unfit to protect its people.

The fact that political elites chose foreign hospitals over local ones is a damning confession: they do not believe in Nigeria.

They do not trust the system they have created, nor do they care for the lives of the ordinary citizens they swore to protect. This is a profound betrayal that cannot be ignored.

In light of this disgraceful reality, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) must take urgent action. A bill should be sponsored to prohibit public office holders from seeking medical care abroad for any condition that can be managed in Nigeria.

Our leaders should be compelled to use the same system they oversee. If they can subject themselves to our justice system, they should do the same with our health sector.

Nigerians have internalized years of pain and disillusionment, and their reaction to the death of their leaders reflects the raw emotion of a people long abused and neglected.

If the time ever comes when Nigerians decide to channel their pain into action, history will not be kind to those who failed to act when they had the chance.

The ruling class cannot afford this, and hence the need for them to demonstrate patriotism and a genuine care for the masses.

Now that former President Buhari has been buried, we must also bury the years of neglect, poor remuneration, and systemic disregard for the welfare of our medical personnel.

Let his passing signal a new era where those who hold up our healthcare system are valued, respected, and adequately rewarded.

A reformed health system with good remuneration for its personnel is not a luxury; it is the foundation of a nation that values life, justice, and its people.

Contact email: princeayoade@gmail.com

At a time when Nigeria’s education system faces unprecedented challenges, 1 Million Teachers (1MT) is offering not just hope—but a proven, homegrown solution.

With an ambitious vision to train and empower one million teachers across underserved communities, 1MT is redefining how education can transform society by placing teachers at the heart of national development.

Rooted in the belief that empowered teachers are the foundation of any thriving society, 1MT’s model has already reached over 100,000 educators across Africa. Its bold target?

One million teachers within five years—creating a ripple effect that will impact millions of learners and entire communities.

A Multi-Pronged Strategy Anchored in Innovation 1MT’s growth is built on five core pillars:

• Blended Learning: A hybrid training model combining online courses with offline community hubs for maximum reach.

• Gamified Teacher Development: The 1MT Blackbelt Program motivates teachers to grow through a merit-based, badge-earning system.

• Community Mentorship: Graduates become mentors, creating self-reinforcing networks of leadership and support.

• Strategic Global Partnerships: Collaborations with institutions like Queen’s University, HP, and Girl Rising extend 1MT’s footprint and credibility.

• Anchor Schools: Designated excellence hubs that serve as real-world laboratories for pedagogy and innovation.

The 1MT Village: Turning Vision into Tangible ChangeMore than just a campus, the 312-acre 1MT Village is a living, breathing demonstration of what happens when visionary thinking meets localised, Afrocentric action.

The Village serves as the “flywheel” of the 1MT mission—its engine room and proving ground.

• A Talent Pipeline: It houses the Centre for Teaching Excellence, Blackbelt educator residencies, the Green School, and a vocational institute—all designed to nurture future education leaders.

• A Regenerative Revenue Model: With businesses in agriculture, tourism, and cultural enterprise, the Village funds its growth sustainably.

• A Magnet for Global Collaboration: Donors, researchers, government officials, and major brands like HP and Mastercard Foundation are drawn to its tangible impact.

• A Policy Laboratory: The Village tests and demonstrates education reforms—from curriculum co-creation to budget simulations—grounded in local realities and teacher leadership.

As Nigeria seeks answers to its educational crisis, 1 Million Teachers are not waiting for change.

‘Let There Be Teachers’ Conference:

National Advocacy on a Global Stage Slated for September 20, 2025, at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, the “Let There Be Teachers” Conference is expected to gather over 60,000 teachers—the largest congregation of educators ever on African soil.

Aiming for a Guinness World Record, the event is more than symbolic; it’s strategic.

The conference will spotlight the 1MT Blackbelt Graduation—a celebration of master educators trained through the 1MT model—and push for policy reforms including:

• Teacher-led education ministries.• Increased education funding

• Higher entry standards for teacher colleges

• Curriculum design co-owned by teachers.

• Official recognition of October 5 (World Teachers’ Day) as a national holiday.

One Movement, Many Voices

The synergy of 1MT, the Village, and the Conference is no accident. Together, they form a powerful ecosystem:

• 1MT is the heart—training teachers with world-class tools.

• The Village is the body—housing the mission in a living curriculum.

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The Conference is the voice—speaking truth to power and the world.

As Nigeria seeks answers to its educational crisis, 1 Million Teachers are not waiting for change.

It is building it—acre by acre, teacher by teacher, voice by voice.Let there be teachers. Let them breathe. Let them lead.