Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre, Director General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, has urged women journalists in the South West to spearhead the revival of ethical standards in Nigerian journalism. He made this passionate appeal during his goodwill message at the zonal meeting of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), held in Ado-Ekiti.
The event, themed “Women as a Catalyst in Nigeria’s Path to Progress”, brought together female journalists from across the region to discuss their role in shaping a better Nigeria. Ojo-Lanre emphasized that women in the media are not just passive chroniclers of events but active builders of the nation’s future.
He showered accolades on Alhaja Adewumi Ademiju, Chairperson of Ekiti NAWOJ, praising her for her exemplary leadership, loyalty, and unrelenting dedication to upholding professionalism in journalism.
“Alhaja Ademiju is more than a leader — she is a symbol of purpose and integrity. Under her leadership, NAWOJ in Ekiti has regained respect and relevance,” he noted, revealing that he had stepped out of an important board meeting just to be part of the event.
While commending the achievements of NAWOJ, the former NUJ Oyo State Chairman expressed concern over the erosion of journalistic values in the country. He decried the increasing prevalence of unverified reports and unbalanced stories — even in mainstream outlets.
“There is a disturbing rise in half-baked stories, hearsay reports, and sensationalism that violate the very ethics that journalism was built upon,” he said.
He also condemned the influx of untrained bloggers and self-styled online reporters who, he argued, saturate the media landscape with misleading and unprofessional content.
Ambassador Ojo-Lanre challenged NAWOJ members to lead the charge for ethical journalism by prioritizing continuous training, certification, digital media literacy, and responsible storytelling.
“You are not just catalysts — you are the change-makers. Your words shape minds, and your stories shape society,” he declared.
As a former Associate Editor of Nigerian Tribune, Ojo-Lanre concluded with a call to mentorship, urging NAWOJ members to nurture upcoming journalists with integrity, knowledge, and a renewed sense of purpose.
