By Qudirat Hakeem-Apanpa
Veteran journalists have been urged to preserve their professional legacies, document their contributions to Nigeria’s development, and speak out against actions that could undermine the values they fought to uphold.
The Chairman of the Day at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Diamond Jubilee Celebration and 2026 Press Week, tagged Veterans’ Day, Ambassador Dr Yemi Farounbi gave the charge while paying tribute to journalists who endured military harassment, intimidation and other challenges in the course of defending democracy and promoting good governance.
Farounbi described journalists as custodians of truth who had played significant roles in preventing the country from sliding into political and social collapse, despite operating under difficult circumstances.
He, however, identified terrorism, banditry and fake news as some of the major challenges confronting younger journalists, warning them against being perceived as sponsors or promoters of such societal vices.
According to him, while technology has given contemporary journalists speed in gathering and disseminating information, only character can guarantee professional integrity.
“Technology has given you speed, but only character can give you integrity. We did not have the internet, but we had the integrity to do what was right,” he said.
The former diplomat urged veteran journalists to open their archives and make their records available to younger colleagues, particularly reports documenting how the media contributed to rescuing the country from bad leadership and defending democratic values.
He also encouraged the veterans to speak out whenever they noticed younger people engaging in activities capable of destroying the legacies painstakingly built by previous generations.
Earlier, the Oyo State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Akeem Abass, described the Veterans’ Day celebration as an opportunity to honour journalists whose sacrifices, courage and resilience helped shape the profession.
Abass acknowledged the difficult conditions under which the veterans practised journalism, recalling how many worked with manual typewriters and endured economic uncertainties while remaining committed to their professional responsibilities.
He said journalism remained a profession founded on integrity and courage, noting that despite their contributions to defending democracy, promoting human rights and giving voices to the voiceless, many veterans had yet to receive the recognition and welfare support they deserved.
The NUJ chairman assured the veterans of the union’s commitment to their well-being, promising regular health checks as part of efforts to improve their welfare.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the League of Veteran Journalists, Mr Banji Ogundele, appreciated the Oyo State NUJ leadership under Abass for its support and special attention to the welfare of members of the league.
He equally pledged the league’s continued cooperation with the union, assuring the leadership of its support for initiatives aimed at strengthening the journalism profession.
In a goodwill message, the pioneer Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Oyo State, Mrs Bose Oyewole, cautioned journalists against turning electioneering periods into money-making ventures.
She urged media practitioners to prioritise developmental journalism and the dissemination of information capable of promoting national unity, rather than allowing personal financial interests to compromise their professional responsibilities.
Oyewole also encouraged younger journalists to remain focused, determined and committed to achieving success in their chosen careers.
Similarly, a former NUJ President, Prince Lanre Ogundipe, called on veteran journalists to remain united and preserve their identity as a formidable professional group whose contributions to the nation’s development could not be erased or diminished.
