Journalism in Nigeria Faces Inherited, Ethical and Digital Crises – Jamiu Ekungba
Date: 16th December, 2025
An experienced leader in the Banking industries and a veteran in the institution, Jamiu Ekungba, has warned that journalism in Nigeria is grappling with deep-rooted structural, ethical, political and digital challenges that threaten its survival unless urgent reforms are implemented.
Speaking at a gathering of journalists, Ekungba said many of the problems confronting the profession today were inherited from the past and have remained unresolved due to weak regulation, poor welfare, political interference and the rapid rise of digital technology.
He said journalism, unlike other professions such as law, accounting and engineering, failed to properly institutionalize itself early enough, leaving the field open to abuse and dilution of standards.
“When we were young, what we knew was ‘reporter,’ not journalism,” he said. “Lawyers formed the Nigerian Bar Association, accountants formed ICAN, engineers formed COREN, but journalism failed to properly regulate itself. That failure is still haunting the profession today.”
Ekungba noted that the absence of strong regulation has allowed untrained individuals to operate freely as journalists, weakening professionalism and public trust.
According to him, the dangers of journalism were evident even in the early days of investigative reporting, citing historical examples such as the late Dele Giwa. He recalled his own experience as president of a press club, where investigative journalism exposed powerful secret groups, often at great personal risk.
“Many people warned me that it would be the last work I would ever do,” he said. “That is the nature of journalism. It is dangerous, but it is necessary.”
He identified political interference as another major challenge, describing it as a two-way problem involving both politicians and media owners. Ekungba said politicians often exploit the media when it suits them, while media proprietors frequently undermine editorial independence for financial gain.
“You may decide to black out a politician, but once advertising money is involved, that blackout disappears,” he said. “Even your employer may not support you, because the organization itself does not prioritize your welfare.”
The speaker described this reality as one of the reasons journalists struggle to resist political pressure, stressing that poor remuneration makes ethical compromises more likely.
Ekungba said the most serious challenge facing journalism in Nigeria is ethical decline, driven by poor pay, weak enforcement and lack of disciplinary authority.
“Journalism faces the greatest ethical dilemma of any profession in Nigeria,” he said. “If ten journalists are together, can you guarantee the ethical integrity of five?”
He explained that unlike professions with strong disciplinary panels empowered by law, journalism lacks a central regulatory authority capable of enforcing ethical standards.
He further identified digital technology as a major disruptive force, warning that the profession was slow to prepare for the digital revolution. According to him, journalism failed to anticipate the impact of social media, artificial intelligence and instant online publishing.
“Any institution that refuses to be dynamic will be like a new car abandoned by the roadside,” he said. “Dust will cover it, and nobody will want it again.”
Ekungba said digital platforms and AI tools now make information widely available, reducing the traditional role of journalists as gatekeepers of news.
“Information is now on your lap,” he said. “No matter how prepared you think you are, technology has taken away part of your job.”
He said the digital age has also allowed anyone with a smartphone and internet access to publish news, often without verification, professionalism or accountability.
“Today, all you need is a phone and data, and you are a journalist,” he said. “Bad news spreads faster, attracts followers and gradually takes over the space meant for professionals.”
Turning to journalists’ welfare, Ekungba said many media organizations no longer provide adequate financial security, pushing journalists into survival mode.
“When nobody cares about your welfare, including your employer, survival becomes your first priority,” he said.
He urged journalists to develop alternative sources of income, describing it as having a “second address,” similar to professionals who maintain parallel careers alongside public service.
“I am an accountant, a farmer and a politician,” he said. “Even when I was a banker, I still worked my farm. Journalism alone should not be the only source of livelihood.”
While stressing that journalists should remain committed to their profession, he advised them to ensure that their financial survival does not depend solely on journalism.
Ekungba also called on media organizations to adopt sustainable financial models, including subscriptions and innovative revenue strategies, to reduce dependence on government funding and political patronage.
“What happens if government funding stops tomorrow?” he asked. “Media organizations must be able to stay afloat independently.”
On professional reform, he urged the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Guild of Editors and other media bodies to work together to establish a strong regulatory authority similar to COREN in engineering.
He said such a body would set entry standards, regulate practice, enforce ethics and discipline offenders, while integrating digital content creators into a structured professional framework.
“Digital technology has empowered these one-man media platforms,” he said. “You cannot drive them away, but you must regulate and integrate them.”
Ekungba concluded by urging journalists to fully embrace digital and multimedia journalism, both individually and collectively, while upholding ethical standards and professionalism.
“Digital journalism has come to stay,” he said. “The challenge before journalists is to adapt, regulate themselves and protect the integrity of the profession.”
He thanked the organizers for the opportunity to address the gathering and expressed hope that the profession would rise to confront its challenges.
