Sola POPOOLA
Chairman of the League of Veteran Journalists, Ekiti State Chapter, Prince Kayode Oni, has warned that despite the radical shift brought by social media, digital platforms and artificial intelligence, the core standards of journalism must not be sacrificed.
Prince Oni said while the tools of news gathering and dissemination have changed, truth, accuracy and rigour remain non-negotiable if journalism must retain public trust
Speaking at the maiden investiture of the Grand Patron and Patrons of the League, held under the theme, “Celebrate Service, Journalism and Legacy”,Prince Oni said the investiture was more than a ceremonial gathering.
He described it as an affirmation of the League’s belief that experience matters, service deserves recognition and those who have served society should not be forgotten.
Decorated as Grand Patrons was the Ekiti.State governor ,Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and the Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and Ogago of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu-Alagbado.
In the category of the patrons inaugurated were the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Sen. Yemi Adaramodu; the Olosi of Osi-Ekiti, Oba Stephen Alabi; and Chairman of the Nigerian Port Authority Governing Board, Sen. Clement Adeyeye.
Also included were ; Onikoyi of Ikoyi Ekiti, Oba Moses Ogundana and the Former Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu.
Prince Oni noted that their collective experiences form an important part of the history of journalism and public communication in Nigeria.
According to him, the media landscape has changed significantly, with instant communication, social media, digital platforms and artificial intelligence now transforming how information is produced and consumed.
Oni appealed to government, corporate organisations, public institutions, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to support the initiative.
He said the League could not build a sustainable future alone and urged stakeholders to help preserve the history of journalism in Ekiti while creating opportunities for younger practitioners.
“They travelled to communities, attended press conferences, covered political campaigns, reported public events and spent countless hours in newsrooms trying to meet deadlines.
“Our response must be a recommitment to professional values. The League believes in journalism that is accurate, fair, responsible and conscious of its impact on society.
“The knowledge acquired by a journalist over decades of professional practice is an invaluable resource. It should not disappear when the journalist retires. It should be passed on to younger practitioners.
“The story of journalism is ultimately the story of society itself. Let us preserve that story and let us honour those who helped write it. Equally important, let us ensure that the next generation has an even stronger chapter to write,” he added.
In his remarks , Oyebanji, represented by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode expressed appreciation for the honour and said the relationship between government and the media was important to the development and public image of Ekiti State.
He commended veteran journalists for their contribution to the development of journalism and their role in communicating government programmes and activities to the public.
Oyebanji said the state’s security and development efforts were being supported by collaboration among government institutions, security agencies and the media.
According to him, the government had invested significantly in security and public safety, while journalists had a responsibility to report developments accurately and professionally.
He urged journalists to continue to give balanced attention to government policies and programmes, saying the media remained an important channel through which citizens and institutions assessed developments in the state.
“I would therefore like to stand in for Mr. Governor to receive this honour on his behalf. I must say that he truly appreciates this honour and is very grateful for the recognition.
“I also want to thank the members of the League of Veteran Journalists. Ekiti State has been recognised as one of the safest and most secure states in Nigeria, and this is not by happenstance. It is a combination of several factors.
“One, we have a governor who has created an enabling environment. He is a peacemaker himself, a bridge-builder and a champion of peace. We also have a crop of media practitioners who are very responsible and highly professional in the state.
“So, it is a combination of these factors. We have a working government that is building bridges and making huge investments in security and the safety of lives. At the same time, we have a league of journalists and media practitioners who are ensuring that people actually know what the government is doing and are reporting the activities of the administration as responsibly as possible.
“The two are working together to ensure that the state remains in the lead and continues to be recognised as one of the safest states in the country.
“I want to say thank you to the journalists, both the veteran ones and the younger practitioners, for their contributions to the achievements of the administration”.The governor said .