Nigeria: Editors to host national dialogue on credible elections

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) is set to host the fourth annual Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture on July 23, 2026, in Lagos. This year's event will convene media leaders, public officials, and civil society actors to deliberate on the critical role of the media, electoral stakeholders, and voters in deepening Nigeria's democratic process.

The lecture, instituted in 2023 to honor the legacy of Alhaji Lateef Jakande, a prominent journalist, former NGE President, former Lagos State Governor, and former Minister of Works, will take place at the Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja. The theme for this year is: “The Media, INEC, Voters and Path to Credible Elections.”

Professor Sylvester Odion Akhaine from the Department of Political Science at Lagos State University will deliver the keynote address. The event will be chaired by former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is expected as the Chief Host and Special Guest of Honour. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, along with other notable media personalities and public officials, are also slated to attend.

Elder statesmen of the Guild, including former Ogun State Governor Chief Segun Osoba and Publisher of Vanguard newspapers Uncle Sam Amuka, are among the expected guests. Representatives from various media organizations, civil society groups, and students from mass communication departments of several universities have also been invited. The NGE views the lecture as a vital platform for thought leadership and national introspection, aiming to uphold the standards set by Jakande in journalism and public service.

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The Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture continues to serve as a platform for thought leadership, policy debate, and national introspection, while keeping alive the standard Jakande set in journalism and public service.