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Opinion

Challenges of Journalism Profession in Nigeria

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By Mahmud Garba Shawai.

 

 

This write up has not been done with the intention to attack or insult any personal entity or group of people.

 

I felt paralyzed when I thought of putting this piece down due to the selfish nature of humans and also our artificial nature of going against the truth deliberately, whenever a pebble of truth strikes us. But, I deemed it necessary to voice out whenever such need arises.

 

Journalism contributed positively and otherwise in the contemporary world we are today. Nigeria is not an exception among the countries that benefited from the good practices of journalism and also suffered and still suffering from its opposites.

 

Firstly, we need to revisit the true definition of the word journalism.

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Journalism, PR, and Cash for Coverage: Matters Arising

Journalism is unbiased production and distribution of reports on current or past events based on facts and supported with proofs or pieces of evidence. The word journalism applies to the occupation, as well as citizen journalists who gather and publish unbiased information based on facts and supported with proofs or shreds of evidence.

 

GOOD!

 

It is obvious that journalism played a significant role in the growth and development of this country.

 

Undoubtedly, the development brought by journalism encompasses almost all aspects of our social lives.

Thousands of oppressed individuals that were detained illegally have gotten their liberty through the influence of journalism. In Nigeria, numerous politicians were kicked out of office due to some of their perpetrated acts that were exposed through broadcast, print, and new media.

In short, the media industry in Nigeria serves as a solace to the average Nigerian folks. They are the voice of the voiceless, the nexus between the masses and the elites, and also an oasis in the eyes of the less privileged individuals.

 

Lucidly, the power of journalism force and reinforce leaders to do the right things that they have less concern on, at the same time it deprives negative people of perpetrating evil acts in the public domain.

 

A lot of solicitations and complaints have been carrying out through various programs mostly radio, media helps in lifting a reasonable number of people from hardships which includes:

 

  1. Hospital charges
  2. School registration fees
  3. Food stuffs
  4. Employment opportunities
  5. Sexual assault
  6. Chauvinism injustice
  7. Infrastructural development
  8. Oppression
  9. Social Insecurity
  10. Domestic violence and many more.

 

Without an iota of regret we certainly need to applaud, appreciate, and continue to support journalism in Nigeria, because it’s the only shade that remains for an average citizen to enjoy.

The Challenges

As I asserted, journalism is playing a significant role in the growth and development of this nation. Likewise, there are unnumbered damages and internal selfishness within the domain of journalists.

 

Media houses today, became the coaches of many perpetrated immoralities by repeatedly broadcasting a certain evil act. The more dirty-minded folks are listening to such negative practices methodologies used by other serial perpetrators the better they become expert in that aspect by integrating their previous knowledge and present one gotten from the media, this makes series of immoral attitudes to be escalating instead of diminishing.

 

Today, journalism in Nigeria has become a license for dancing all tunes of immorality without fairness or regret because no one is going to criticize or report the indecencies, actions, or bad attitudes of journalists in the public domain.

 

It’s obvious, most of the programs aired or reported by the mass media that do criticize and unveil the negativities of politicians, business tycoons, influential traditional holders, and high-level government officials are mostly supported by the personal and selfish interest of either the presenters of the programs or their bosses within the media domain.

 

Corruption is the foremost element that media persons claim to be exposing continuously, but unfortunately, it’s incredible to know that corruption has taken over the integrity of most media houses, though only members within the arena and their associates can understand this.

 

Salary Structure of Media House

1.Let me begin by expressing my utmost worry about the salary structure of most Nigerian media houses, especially private ones. The nature of journalism’s job is full of stress, full of wahala, and unrewarding, but still, journalists are not being paid well, no motivation from the management, in some media organizations even the means of transportation is a problem. Only the media owners and some top officials enjoy with good salary structure and they don’t care about the welfare of junior ones who suffer most, because they are the ones who always go to the field and face all assaults from the government officials and the society.

 

2.Promotions and appointments are not always been done base on merit, credibility, merit, and hardworking but rather, base on a personal relationship with the principals.

 

3.The most important and interesting stories are the ones supported with brown envelopes, not the messages contained in them.

 

4.Some media houses principals engage in close relationships with some ladies for a reason best known to them (media principals).

 

5.Nepotism and chauvinism in numerous media houses encourages recruiting unprofessional journalist which lead to causing so many damages and scandalous things in the  filing of a simple report be it in vernacular or in the official language (English)

 

6.Head of the political desk in most of the media houses are always loyal to the principals. Their salaries are not much but they wear expensive clothes, wristwatches, and caps, they drive expensive cars and operate the latest smartphones.  In short, they run luxury lives. Where are they getting the money from?  “Benefit of brown envelopes”

 

Advice

 

We should not criticize and publicize other people’s faults and cover ours just because we have the advantage of doing so.

 

All of us should be much more humble and contrite when we point the finger at somebody else because four more fingers are pointing back at us.

Nigeria Union of journalists described late colleague as dedicated ,urged the government to look after his family

Let’s know that the more a dog barks the more concerns and attention shall be given to it. So, the more you expose someone’s deficiencies the better people will analyze your social life.

Mahmud Garba Shawai is the Chairman North-West Awareness Foundation and can be reached on mahmudgarbashawai@gmail.com

 

Opinion

Let President Tinubu Rename University of Lagos After Gowon, Not Abuja

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Adnan Mukhtar Tudun Wada

 

 

Adnan Mukhtar Tudun Wada

I was not happy when Northwest University Kano was renamed to Yusuf Maitama Sule University, as student leaders of that University then, we followed the interest of the students who were also not happy with the renaming at that time for one reason; the renaming was politically motivated, to hurt the founder of the institution Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. I was busy mobilising students to protest, the next day I was invited to the DSS for questions where I spent hours and all the people we were mobilising the protest together ran and dissociated themselves from it. I have no option but to plead with the DSS to release me, assuring them that not a single student would protest the government’s action.

The renaming has affected many students who are seeking admission abroad; it’s Northwest University on my transcript and Yusuf Maitama Sule University on my certificate. This is kinda confusing and not good at all.

Politicians should immortalise individuals in their new projects not existing ones. The renaming of the University of Abuja to Yakubu Gowon University is not good for the university’s alumni.

The President should have found a new project or built a new University by naming it after the former Head of State.

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I don’t support the idea of playing politics by renaming our universities and this happens mostly in Nigeria.

Imagine waking up renaming the University of Maiduguri to Mohammed Goni University, Yobe State University to Ibrahim Geidam University, the University of Ibadan to Abiola Ajimobi University, the University of Lagos to Lateef Jakande University.

It will be bad for the alumni of the aforementioned universities to come across this.

Why is this only happening in Africa? Look at Makerere University in Uganda, it was established in 1920 but despite Yoweri Mosevenni’s long reign; he didn’t for once attempt to change it to even his name for selfish reasons.

He didn’t think of renaming the Entebbe International Airport after him but in Nigeria, we have this culture of renaming everything after individuals.

If you want to be immortalised, leave a lasting legacy as Gowon did in establishing NYSC. That enough is Okay and better than naming an institution after him.

President Tinubu should have renamed the University of Lagos after Gowon, not Abuja. I’m sure his people will reject this not for any reason but because of the large number of people that will be affected by it.

The University of Abuja Alumni were all crying over this painful decision.

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Opinion

Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya: Champion of Civil Society and Good Governance in Northern Nigeria

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Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, is an influential Civil Society figure in Kano State and Northern Nigeria. He is currently serving as the Executive Director, Citizens for Development and Education (CDE), he has dedicated many years of his civil society activism as advocate for the promotion of democracy, good governance, anti-corruption, peace building and women empowerment

Amb. Waiya, holds number of academic qualifications, including a Higher National Diploma in Public Administration from Kano State Polytechnic, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, Master’s in Public International Law at Maryam Abacha, American University, Maradi, and he is currently pursuing a doctor of philosophy at Skyline University, Kano in International Relations

In the course of his career, he held several positions and managed a number of projects. He served as the Director, Alhilal Foundation, from 2003 to 2007, an organization which focused on women empowerment, through basic literacy and skills acquisition. He later coordinated the North West Zonal Office of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Foundation. Amb. Ibrahim Waiya, led and coordinated a number of Local Government Councils Elections Observation missions across 19 Northern states.

In 2011, Waiya managed the Campaign against Drug Abuse under the auspices of Northern Youth Assembly, a youth driven platform with leadership structures in the Nineteen Northern States. He served as Secretary, for both, Kano State Stakeholders Committee on Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign and Kano State Stakeholders Committee on Anti-Child Abuse, a project which was coordinated by the office of the Special Adviser, Child Welfare and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. His involvement in election observation coordination missions and various public engagements, highlights his commitment to civic engagement towards community development, democracy and good governance

Waiya’s extensive experience includes free consultancy support services to numerous Government Ministries and Agencies such as: Kano State Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development, Kano State Ministry for Community and Rural Development, office of the Special Adviser to the Governor of Kano State on Child Welfare, Ministry for Special duties, office of the special adviser, joint security services. He has facilitated numerous training workshops and seminars, impacting his knowledge, skills, experience on the community, particularly for community based organizations

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In recognition of his contributions, he was appointed to several key positions, such as the President, of the Kano Civil Society Forum, Chairman of the Conference of Northern States Civil Society Networks, Convener, Nigeria for Peace Project, Managing partner, United Nigeria Project, Head of Secretariat, Kano Peace Committee, Secretary General, National Action for Women Agenda,(NAWA), chairman, Board of Trustees, Northern Youth Assembly, (Majalisar Matasan Arewa) Fellow, Institute of Security and Strategic Studies, Fellow, Institute of International Peace and Secure Society, Fellow, Institute of Business Diplomacy and Financial Management, member, Commission of Inquiry on Missing persons, member, Implementation Committee, on the Recommendations of the Report of the Commission of inquiry on missing persons, member, Commission of Inquiry to investigate, various political violence and cases of missing persons, that occurred in the State from 2015 – 2023, member, Commission of inquiry to investigate protest, arson and destruction of public and private properties that occurred from 1st – 10th August, 2024 Amb. Waiya, served as Consultant on various government projects, such as: Kano State Security Trust Fund, Safe Corridor, Campaign against Drug Abuse, across the 44 Local Government Council Areas. Amb. Waiya”s active participation in peace building, policy advocacy and legislative reform has continued to impact positive change in Kano State, the North and Nigeria at large.

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Opinion

“I Transition to PR and Digital Marketing to Transform Brands Globally” – Ibrahim Ayyuba Isah

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As 2024 comes to a close, Ibrahim Ayyuba Isah reflects on his journey from journalism to public relations (PR) and digital marketing. With over a decade of experience in media and communications, Ibrahim’s transition was fueled by a desire to empower businesses—starting with Northern Nigeria but extending globally—to build impactful narratives and achieve sustainable growth.

“Every brand, regardless of location, deserves access to the tools and expertise needed to thrive in today’s fast-paced world,” Ibrahim says. “My goal has always been to bridge the gap in strategic communication, ensuring that no business is left behind.”

From Journalism to Strategic Communication

Ibrahim’s illustrious journalism career spans over a decade, during which he served as a Senior Reporter at TVC News, covering critical developments, including the Kano State Government House for three successive administrations. His work involved breaking major news stories, producing multimedia content, and engaging audiences through digital platforms.

“I’ve always been passionate about communication, but I realized I wanted to do more than report stories—I wanted to help brands craft their own,” Ibrahim shares. “That’s what led me to pivot into PR and digital marketing.”

To equip himself for this new journey, Ibrahim pursued advanced studies, earning a Master’s in Communication Studies and a Master’s in Public Relations from Bayero University, Kano. He further honed his expertise with a Professional Certificate in Digital Marketing from the London School of Business Administration and a Master Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Digital Marketing Skills Institute. These credentials underscore his commitment to mastering the art of strategic communication.

Empowering Brands Through Ayrah Media Concept

As the CEO of Ayrah Media Concept (AMC), Ibrahim leads a PR and creative agency that provides businesses with tailored solutions, including PR consulting, social media management, corporate campaigns, and digital marketing.

“My vision is to empower brands to connect with their audiences, tell compelling stories, and achieve global relevance,” Ibrahim explains. “Through AMC, we’re showing businesses—whether in Northern Nigeria or beyond—that they can reach new heights with the right strategies.”

In 2024, AMC worked on several impactful campaigns, including Ibrahim’s role as a Lead Consultant for the WOFAN-ICON2 project in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, where he developed and executed PR and communication strategies to amplify the project’s impact.

Changing Perceptions and Building Bridges

Transitioning into PR and digital marketing came with challenges, including shifting perceptions about its value.

“Many businesses see PR and digital marketing as optional rather than essential,” Ibrahim says. “But the results are transformative. Strategic communication is not just about visibility; it’s about building trust, credibility, and lasting connections with your audience.”

This philosophy drives Ibrahim’s approach, ensuring that businesses of all sizes—whether local startups or established corporations—can access high-quality PR and marketing services.

Looking Ahead

Ibrahim’s vision for the future extends far beyond regional boundaries. While his roots and passion lie in Northern Nigeria, his focus is on creating strategies that resonate globally.

“Brands in Kano, Lagos, Abuja, or even New York share a common goal: to connect with people and make an impact,” he says. “My mission is to ensure that every business, regardless of size or location, has the tools and strategies to achieve that.”

In 2025, Ibrahim plans to document his professional journey in a book that will explore his experiences as a journalist and PR expert, offering insights into the evolving landscape of communication and its role in business success.

A Message of Gratitude

As he reflects on the year, Ibrahim expresses his gratitude to those who have supported his journey. “I’m incredibly thankful to my mentors, collaborators, and clients who have believed in my vision. Together, we’ve shown that impactful communication has the power to transform lives and businesses.”

With a clear vision and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Ibrahim Ayyuba Isah is poised to lead the way in redefining PR and digital marketing, not just in Nigeria but across the globe.

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