By Lawrence Mpama
Former head of Service in the Cross River State Civil Service, and Fellow of The Nigerian Guild of Editors, Dr Ogban Akwarji, has lampooned journalists who allow themselves to be used as attacking dogs and willing tools in the hands of corrupt politicians and public office holders just to cover themselves from public scrutiny, and misdirect attention. In a stirring motivational address to kick-starts the 2025 Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) press freedom Week in Calabar, Dr Akwaji call on media professionals to recommit themselves to the ideals of journalism and rise above the mounting challenges facing the profession.
Speaking on the theme, “Journalists and the Burden of Professionalism,” Fellow Akwaji avoided academic recitations and instead offered a powerful and practical reminder of the essence of journalism and the urgent need for ethical rebirth within the profession.
“Today, I won’t pretend to take my colleagues back to the classroom to teach the basics,” he began. “My assumption is that we all have what it takes to practice journalism. But what we must not forget are those essential ingredients that make us worthy of being called members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm.”
Dr. Akwaji emphasized that journalists must serve as modulators of the other arms of government and hold them accountable to the people — a responsibility that often requires a difficult balance between neutrality and truth-telling.
Central to his message was a reflection on the core function of journalists as reporters. He called on practitioners to return to the roots of effective news writing, while embracing modern trends without sacrificing accuracy and credibility.
While recognizing the evolution of news formats, Dr. Akwaji warned against the over-reliance on unverified content from social media, especially in the age of artificial intelligence, deep fakes, and misinformation. “What you see or hear may not be real. So, we must be careful in reporting events that fly on social media,” he cautioned.
He expressed concern over the dwindling practice of investigative journalism in Cross River State, urging reporters to dig deeper and hold power to account.
He underscored the need for journalists to tailor their news writing style according to the frequency of their publication. “Daily publications can afford breaking news, but weekly or monthly magazines must offer depth — the news behind the news,” he advised.
On editorial writing, he clarified that editorials represent the institutional voice of a news organization and must avoid personal biases. A solid editorial, he said, should inform, debate, and then take a clear stand on pressing issues.
In his passionate plea for developmental journalism, Dr. Akwaji charged his colleagues to focus their reportage on national security, democracy, and the economy — the three pillars essential to nation-building.
He criticized media content that inadvertently aids the objectives of insurgents or undermines the efforts of security forces. “Let us not sabotage our national defense with careless headlines,” he implored.
On democracy, he called for a higher standard of reporting, lamenting how journalists have confused infrastructural development for dividends of democracy. “The true dividends are the Rule of Law, press freedom, accountability, and institutional independence,” he asserted.
Dr. Akwaji equally called for more economically sensitive journalism, urging reporters to expose corrupt practices rather than cozy up to corrupt officials for personal gain. “Why should journalists become image makers for those plundering our commonwealth?” he asked pointedly.
In perhaps the most powerful part of his address, Dr. Akwaji called for an ethical rebirth in the journalism profession. He decried the decline in professional standards, noting that many reporters now compromise stories, integrity, and objectivity for financial gratification.
“Our profession is noble,” he said solemnly, “So must our conduct be. We must resist being hired as attack dogs for the rich and powerful.”
As the 2025 NUJ Week continues, Dr. Akwaji’s address serves as a sober reflection and motivational charge — urging the Fourth Estate to reclaim its dignity, return to its ethical roots, and become again the conscience of the nation.
“Let us recalibrate,” he concluded, “and bring back those virtues of our founding fathers so that the eroding values of the pen profession can be reversed.”
