By Hosea Parah
Management consultant and Chief Executive Officer of Management Edge Limited, Dr Ayodeji Rex Abitogun, has challenged Nigerian journalists to embrace courage, accuracy, independence and investigative journalism in the interest of democracy and national development.
Abitogun gave the charge on Thursday, while delivering the keynote address at the launch of The Eagle Times Newspaper. Speaking on the symbolism of launching a newspaper named after the eagle on Nigeria’s Independence Day, he urged the new publication to become a trusted institution for truth, accountability and responsible journalism.
Using the eagle as a metaphor for the press, Abitogun said journalists must develop the vision and courage to look beyond the surface of events. He stressed that journalism should not stop at reporting what happened but must investigate why it happened, who was affected, who was responsible and what the consequences were for society.
He cited abandoned projects as an example, saying journalists should investigate who received contracts, how much was paid and why communities failed to receive the promised services. He also urged reporters to verify claims by government officials, politicians, critics and social-media users, describing the approach as “eagle-eyed journalism.”
Abitogun warned that misinformation, disinformation, manipulated videos and photographs, as well as artificial intelligence-generated content, were creating new challenges for the media. He therefore urged The Eagle Times to compete not simply on speed but on credibility, stressing that “journalism cannot compete merely on speed; it must compete on trust.”
He also called on the press to remain independent without becoming irresponsible, saying journalists should neither become enemies of government nor its public relations department. He said the media must report government achievements when they occur, expose failures when established, investigate allegations and correct the record when allegations are found to be false.
Abitogun charged the management and editorial team of The Eagle Times to give voice to vulnerable Nigerians while holding the powerful accountable. He urged the newspaper to “celebrate Nigeria without ignoring its imperfections, criticise without destroying hope, investigate without fear” and concluded with a symbolic charge: “Let the Eagle fly.”