The Director General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre, Esq., has charged women journalists across the South West to lead the revival of ethical and professional journalism in Nigeria. He made this call while delivering a powerful goodwill message at the Meeting of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), South West Zone, held in Ado-Ekiti.
Themed “Women as a Catalyst in Nigeria’s Path to Progress,” the event brought together women journalists who, according to Ojo-Lanre, represent more than mere observers of society — they are active builders of the nation’s destiny.
In his address, the DG commended Alhaja Adewumi Ademiju, Chairperson of Ekiti NAWOJ, for her unwavering professionalism, loyalty, and contributions to elevating the image of journalism within and beyond Ekiti State.
“Alhaja Ademiju is not just a leader; she is a beacon of purpose whose leadership has restored credibility to Ekiti NAWOJ and made journalism appealing once again,” he said, noting that he deliberately excused himself from a major board meeting to honour the occasion.
While celebrating the achievements of NAWOJ and the powerful role of women in national development, Amb. Ojo-Lanre voiced a strong concern over what he described as a growing decline in journalistic standards.
“There is a surge in one-legged stories — unverified, unbalanced, and sometimes hearsay-based content — even in mainstream media. This betrays the sacred ethics of our profession,” he lamented.
He further criticized the rise of untrained individuals operating as bloggers or citizen journalists who, in many cases, “flood the media space with misinformation lacking editorial rigor.”
Calling on NAWOJ to take the lead, the tourism chief challenged the women journalists to become “the vanguard of ethical revival in journalism” by promoting continuous training, certification, digital literacy, and media responsibility.
“You are not just catalysts for progress — you are the progress. Your stories carry the weight of truth and the hope of a more informed and empowered society,” he affirmed.
Amb. Wale Ojo-Lanre, who is a two-term former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Chapter, and Associate Editor of the Nigerian Tribune, concluded his message with a call to mentorship, urging NAWOJ members to groom the next generation of ethical, empowered journalists.