Nigerian Guild of Editors Sets July 23 for 4th Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has announced that the 4th Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture will hold on July 23, 2026 in Lagos, with media practitioners, public officials, academics and civil society leaders expected to examine the role of key stakeholders in delivering credible elections in Nigeria.

According to a statement jointly signed by the Guild's President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, the annual lecture will take place at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, beginning at 11 a.m.

This year's lecture is themed "The Media, INEC, Voters and Path to Credible Elections," reflecting ongoing national conversations on electoral integrity and democratic governance.

The Guild announced that Professor Sylvester Odion Akhaine of the Department of Political Science, Lagos State University (LASU), will deliver the keynote lecture, while former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, will serve as chairman of the event.

The organisers also disclosed that Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is expected as the Chief Host and Special Guest of Honour, alongside the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.

Other expected guests include senior members of the Guild, among them former Ogun State Governor Chief Segun Osoba, Vanguard publisher Uncle Sam Amuka, top government officials, media executives, editors from print, broadcast and digital news organisations as well as representatives of civil society organisations.

The Guild said students and lecturers of journalism and mass communication from Caleb University, Lagos State University, Yaba College of Technology and the Nigerian Institute of Journalism have also been invited to participate in the event.

According to the statement, the annual memorial lecture was instituted in 2023 to preserve and celebrate the legacy of the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, who served as President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Governor of Lagos State and later Minister of Works.

The NGE described the memorial lecture as a platform that brings together media leaders, policymakers and stakeholders to reflect on issues of national development, governance and the role of the press in strengthening democracy.

The Guild noted that the initiative also serves as a tribute to Jakande's enduring contributions to journalism, public service and nation-building.

It added that the lecture series has evolved into a forum for thought leadership, policy engagement and national introspection while preserving the values of professionalism, integrity and service that defined Jakande's career.

The Guild further explained that inviting university students to the annual lecture is aimed at exposing aspiring journalists to experienced media professionals, encouraging mentorship and reinforcing the ideals of excellence, ethical journalism and public service.

The inaugural edition of the memorial lecture was delivered in 2023 by Chief Felix Adenaike, a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors. In 2024, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman of THISDAY Newspapers and ARISE News, delivered a lecture titled "Rapid Changing Media Landscape: Survival Strategies."

The third edition, held in 2025, featured Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who spoke on the theme "Journalism and the Challenge of Nation-Building in a Multi-Ethnic Society."