Fayemi Chairs Fourth Lateef Jakande Lecture In Lagos

By Our Reporter

A former two-time governor of Ekiti State and one time Minister of Solid Minerals Development as well as Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, is billed to chair the 4th Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture organized by the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, scheduled to hold in Lagos on July 23, 2026.

The lecture series was instituted by the Guild in 2023 to honour its pioneer president, Late Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, an iconic journalist who was also a former Governor of Lagos State as well former Minister of Works in the administration of Late Gen. Sani Abacha, from November 1993 to March 1995.

In a press release jointly signed by Eze Anaba – President and Onuoha Ukeh – General Secretary, the lecture holds at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja with the theme: The Media, INEC, Voters and Path to Credible Elections and shall have Prof. Sylvester Odion Akhaine of the Department of Political Science, Lagos State University as the Guest Speaker.

The release listed Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the Chief Host and Special Guest of Honour, while the Minister of Information and National Orientation  – Alhaji Mohammed Idris, elders of the Guild such as the former Governor of Ogun State – Chief Segun Osoba, publisher of Vanguard group of newspapers – Uncle Sam Amuka, top government functionaries, managing directors and editors-in-chief of print, electronic, online publications as well as civil society groups are also expected.

The Lateef Jakande Memorial lecture, which usual brings together an array of media gurus, public officials and civil society groups to reflect on nation building, governance, and the role of the press, and is described as a “fitting tribute to Alhaji Jakande’s legacy”, will also attract Mass Communication and Journalism lecturers and students of Caleb University, Ikorodu, Lagos; Lagos State University, Ojo; Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and; Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos.

NGE, in the release, added that: the “Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture continues to serve as a platform for thought leadership, policy debate, and national introspection while keeping alive the standards (that) Jakande set in journalism and public service.”

It explained further that university students are invited every year to enable them to learn the value of service, excellence, and dedication to journalism and public service” as well as connect them “with practicing journalists who could serve as their role models in the profession.”

The first edition of the lecture in 2023 was delivered by Chief Felix Adenaike, Fellow of the Guild who spoke on “Lateef Jakande: The man, His Journalism, His Politics” while the second edition the following year focused on the “Rapid Changing Media Landscape: Survival Strategies” and had Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman of Thisday and Arise Tv as Guest Speaker. The third edition last year had the theme “Journalism and the Challenge of Nation-Building in a Multi Ethnic Society” and was delivered by Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed.