Goodwill Message by His Excellency, Malam Umar A. Namadi, FCA, the Executive Governor of Jigawa State, at the 2026 All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC 2026), organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors
Enugu State – September 23 to 27, 2026.
Protocols.
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful. I am deeply honoured and delighted to join the Nigerian Guild of Editors at this foremost gathering of editors-in-chief and senior media leaders from across Nigeria. I sincerely thank the Guild’s Executive Council for the invitation. Evidently, this annual convention brings together leading figures from the media industry, underscoring the vital role of editorial leadership in shaping public discourse, strengthening democratic governance, and advancing national development.
2. Let me begin by congratulating the President, the Standing Committee, and the entire membership of the Nigerian Guild of Editors for sustaining the All Nigeria Editors Conference as one of Nigeria’s most respected platforms for professional reflection, constructive dialogue, and the strengthening of ethical standards in journalism. Since its inauguration in Ada, Osun State, in 2004, the conference has remained a proud tradition of the Guild. For 22 years, it has promoted professional excellence, defended press freedom, strengthened editorial integrity, and deepened national conversation on democracy, governance, and development.
3. Let me use this opportunity to salute the outstanding leaders who helped shape the Guild’s proud legacy. They include its founding President, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, of blessed memory, and other eminent past leaders such as Prince Tony Momoh, Chris Okolie, Ray Ekpu, Garba Shehu, Oluremi Oyo, and Bala Dan Tiye, during whose tenure the Annual All Nigeria Editors Conference began. I also acknowledge all succeeding presidents who sustained the tradition. I commend the current President, Eze Anaba, for building on this distinguished legacy and ensuring that the Guild remains true to its ideals of professionalism, integrity, press freedom, and national service.
4. The Nigerian Guild of Editors came into being in 1961, only a year after Nigeria gained independence. Since then, the Guild has developed as a professional institution committed to public reason, civic responsibility, press freedom, and democratic accountability. From its earliest days to date, the Guild has brought together editorial leaders who understood that journalism, in its authentic essence, is principled, not merely a trade, but a solemn public duty. In its defence, some may even have paid the ultimate price rather than compromise its ideals.
5. It is against this distinguished legacy that we gather in Enugu for this year’s conference to reflect on the media’s continuing responsibility to Nigeria’s democracy and national development. I commend the Government and good people of Enugu State for hosting the conference. With its special place in Nigeria’s political, cultural, and media history, Enugu provides a fitting setting for editors from across the federation to consider the future of journalism and its role in strengthening democracy, development, and national cohesion.
6. I am particularly excited by the choice of theme for this year’s conference: “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive.” It is both timely and profound. The subtheme, “When Lies Look Real…”, is equally compelling. In this era of digital transformation,
AI-based disinformation is among the most serious threats to modern democracy because it can imitate reality, manipulate public opinion, inflame tensions, and undermine confidence in electoral outcomes. Artificial intelligence, image-editing software, and other emerging ICT tools can now generate and manipulate text, images, audio, and video so convincingly that falsehood can readily appear true. Members of the Guild, and indeed all citizens, must therefore be equipped to detect and debunk disinformation, especially before, during, and after elections.
7. The theme reminds us that credible elections depend not only on the ballot box, but also on well-informed citizens who can make their choices free from deceptive narratives, lies that look real, or AI-generated falsehoods designed to appear real. The media therefore bears a vital responsibility to provide accurate and objective reporting before, during, and after every electoral contest. To perform this role effectively, the media must strengthen fact-checking and verification, uphold professional ethics, and equip journalists to detect and counter disinformation without compromising editorial independence.
8. Distinguished editors, the press remains one of the strongest pillars of our democracy. At every decisive moment in Nigeria’s journey, the media has helped to inform citizens, interrogate power, defend public interest, and give voice to the aspirations of ordinary people. Your work goes beyond reporting events; it fosters peace, unity, and national cohesion, deepens public understanding, promotes accountability, and reinforces society’s moral foundations. All these are all essential to democratic governance in which citizens are well-informed, institutions are held accountable, and the rule of law prevails.
9. Indeed, in an era of rapid technological change, where the practice of journalism is significantly facilitated by the tools of information and communication technology, the enormous burden on editors has become even more critical. While managing newsrooms, the editor is also the final line of defence for accuracy, fairness, balance, ethics, and national responsibility, especially when false information is designed to look credible and travel faster than the truth.
10. For this reason, I urge Nigerian media to continue to invest in verification systems, newsroom fact-checking capacity, media literacy, ethical use of technology, and collaboration across platforms to detect and debunk harmful disinformation early. For me, the challenge before editors should not be about “breaking news,” – who breaks the news first – but about ensuring responsible publishing, protecting the truth, and helping citizens understand it with clarity and confidence.
11. Beyond these practical measures, the Guild must continue to promote integrity, courage, restraint, and a deep sense of national responsibility within the profession. Even as it celebrates excellence, the Guild must also hold erring members accountable and uphold the ethical standards that give journalism its honour. The power of the pen, and, today, the keyboard, is profound: it can inform, enlighten, reconcile, and advance development, but it can also spread malice and falsehood, deepen hatred, and sow discord among individuals, communities, institutions, and nations.
12. Ladies and gentlemen, even as we emphasise sensitisation and enlightenment on doing what is right, the social media space must be regulated to minimise the spread of falsehood. Fortunately, Nigeria already has relevant laws. Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act, as amended in 2024, criminalises knowingly false online messages intended to cause a breakdown of law and order or threaten life. Section 123 of the Electoral Act 2022 prohibits specified false statements about candidates and their withdrawal during elections. Our task, therefore, is to strengthen public awareness, ensure fair and consistent enforcement, and close any gaps through clear, proportionate, and rights-respecting measures. Such measures must deter deliberate falsehood, incitement, and character assassination without imperilling legitimate expression or press freedom.
13. Beyond legislation, government and the media must work together on sustained information, education and communication programmes that strengthen media and digital literacy, promote responsible citizenship, expand fact-checking and public awareness, and equip citizens to identify and reject disinformation. Such collaboration will translate the concerns raised by the conference theme and subtheme into practical action, while preserving legitimate expression and rebuilding trust in public institutions and the democratic process.
14. In Jigawa State, our Gwamnati da Jama’a (Citizens’ Engagement) Programme gives practical expression to the theme of this conference by taking government directly to citizens across all 27 Local Government Areas. Elected officials present their scorecards, answer questions, and translate public feedback into budgetary and policy priorities. By widening access to verified information and creating regular channels for dialogue, the programme strengthens accountability and public trust. These are vital safeguards at a time when digitally manufactured falsehoods can so easily distort democratic choice.
15. Building on the citizen engagement and the public trust fostered by the initiative, our proposed Digital Social Responsibility Programme will complement the Mass Mobilisation for Societal Reorientation Executive Order No. 2 of 2026, which I have signed, by promoting digital literacy, ethical communication, civic responsibility, and constructive engagement, all of which are essential foundations for peace, unity, social cohesion, good governance, and democratic resilience.
16. Finally, I hope and pray that this conference will advance pragmatic ways for the media to uphold professionalism in the digital era, champion truth, reject divisive narratives, and strengthen national unity.
17. On behalf of the Government and people of Jigawa State, I congratulate the Nigerian Guild of Editors on ANEC 2026 and wish all delegates fruitful deliberations, renewed professional commitment, and safe journeys home. May this conference deepen public trust and our shared commitment to an informed, united, and democratic Nigeria.
18. I thank you for your kind attention. Wassalam Alaikum.
