The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has announced that the third edition of the Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture will be held on Tuesday, July 23, 2025, at the Edmark D’Podium International Event Centre in Ikeja, Lagos.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to a statement jointly signed by NGE President Eze Anaba and General Secretary Onuoha Ukeh, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed will deliver the keynote address at the event.

This year’s lecture, themed “Journalism and the Challenge of Nation-Building in a Multi-Ethnic Society,” will focus on the vital role of the media in fostering unity across Nigeria’s diverse landscape and deepening democratic governance.

Instituted in 2023, the annual lecture honours the towering legacy of Late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, former Lagos State Governor, journalist, Minister of Works, and former NGE President. Jakande, who died in 2021 at age 91, is widely celebrated for his enduring contributions to journalism, education, housing, and infrastructure development.

The NGE described the lecture as a platform for thought leadership, policy engagement, and national reflection. According to the Guild, the 2025 edition aims to build on the tradition of using Jakande’s ideals to inspire solutions to contemporary challenges.

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun will serve as chairman of the event, while Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is expected as the special guest of honour. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, is also listed as a guest of honour.

“This year’s edition will once again spotlight the intersection of journalism, policy, and national cohesion,” the NGE stated. “We are proud to uphold the legacy of a man who exemplified truth, equity, and people-driven governance.”

The inaugural edition in 2023 featured veteran editor and NGE Fellow Chief Felix Adenaike, while the 2024 lecture was headlined by media mogul Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman of ThisDay Newspapers and Arise TV, who addressed “Rapidly Changing Media Landscape: Survival Strategies.”

This year’s session is expected to deepen the national conversation on the press as a unifying force in a multi-ethnic federation like Nigeria.

Electoral Panel Sworn In as Lagos Prepares for Local Polls Amid Tensions

In a related development, Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), has charged newly appointed tribunal members with upholding democracy and the rule of law in handling electoral disputes arising from the July 12 local government elections.

Speaking during their inauguration, Pedro described the appointments as “a call to service in defence of democracy,” urging the panel to resist any perception that courts are used to manipulate electoral outcomes.

Justice Oyinkan-Abdullahi, speaking on behalf of the tribunal members, expressed gratitude for the trust reposed in them, vowing not to betray public confidence. “Trust is very uncommon these days. That you have reposed so much trust in us means a lot, and we will not disappoint you,” she said.

The panels are expected to begin work immediately after the polls, adhering strictly to legal timelines.

Opposition Alleges Pre-Rigging, Boycotts Loom Over LG Elections

As Lagosians head to the polls today to elect councillors and chairpersons across the state’s 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas, several opposition parties have raised red flags about the credibility of the process.

13 out of 15 registered political parties reportedly declined to sign the traditional peace accord facilitated by LASIEC, leaving only the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Youth Party as signatories.

Opposition leaders, under the umbrella of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), faulted LASIEC for failing to consult them before releasing election guidelines and refusing to extend the nomination deadline despite repeated pleas.

“The Commission did not consult us before releasing the guidelines,” said IPAC spokesperson George Ashiru, citing “unrealistic deadlines” and internal party challenges as reasons for non-compliance.

Labour Party (LP) Chairperson, Dayo Ekong, also criticised LASIEC, alleging that LP posters and billboards were destroyed across Lagos. She urged the commission to adopt a fairer stance amid the LP’s internal leadership crisis.