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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Daily Times at 100: Ex-MD Urges History Preservation, Credible Journalism

From ThisDay · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • As Daily Times celebrates its 100th anniversary, former MD Yemi Ogunbiyi calls for preserving history and credible journalism.
  • Ogunbiyi emphasized the newspaper's pivotal role in nation-building and documenting Nigeria's evolution.
  • He expressed concern over the erosion of institutional memory and the challenges of misinformation in the digital age.

As Nigeria's Daily Times newspaper marks its centenary, former Managing Director Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi has urged a renewed commitment to preserving the nation's history and upholding credible journalism. Ogunbiyi, who rose through the ranks of the publication, stressed that the 100th anniversary is not just a milestone for the newspaper but also a moment to reflect on the vital role media institutions play in nation-building.

It was never just a newspaper. It was an institution that helped build Nigeria

— Yemi OgunbiyiOgunbiyi describing the historical significance of the Daily Times newspaper.

He described Daily Times as more than just a newspaper, highlighting its significant contribution to shaping Nigeria's media landscape and documenting its political, economic, and social development. "It was an institution that helped build Nigeria," Ogunbiyi stated, noting that the newspaper served as a crucial training ground for journalists long before formal journalism education was widespread in universities.

A nation that does not preserve its history gradually loses its identity

— Yemi OgunbiyiOgunbiyi highlighting the importance of historical preservation for national identity.

Ogunbiyi voiced concern over the gradual loss of institutional memory in Nigeria, warning that the country's history is increasingly being neglected. He believes that understanding the past builds national confidence and that institutions earn respect when their histories are preserved. "When people no longer know where they are coming from, they struggle to determine where they should be going," he remarked.

When people no longer know where they are coming from, they struggle to determine where they should be going

— Yemi OgunbiyiOgunbiyi explaining the consequences of neglecting historical understanding.

Addressing the transformation of the media landscape due to technology, Ogunbiyi acknowledged the disruption caused by digital platforms and social media. While recognizing the expanded access to information, he cautioned about the rise of misinformation and unverified content. Ogunbiyi expressed confidence in the enduring relevance of professional journalism, emphasizing the need for accuracy and verification to compete with the speed of information dissemination in the digital age.

The greatest disruption has come from technology. Today almost everyone can publish information

— Yemi OgunbiyiOgunbiyi commenting on the impact of technology on journalism.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ThisDay in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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