The 8th Bagauda Kaltho Memorial Lecture Series organised by the Africa Media Developmen Foundation AMDF, has called for the review and address of outdated laws that continue to create obstacles to press freedom.
It also suggested the engagement of relevant legislative institutions on the repeal or reform of residual laws identified as restrictive to journalism
A communique issued at the conclusion of the virtual lecture themed ” Courageous Journalism, Press Freedom and the Challenge of Election manipulation Ahead of Iberia’s 2027 General Elections also stressed the need to strengthen constructive engagement between security institutions and the media rather than approaches that unnecessarily restrict legitimate journalism.
FULL TEXT OF THE COMMUNIQUE
COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE 8TH BAGAUDA KALTHO MEDIA LECTURE
Theme: Courageous Journalism, Press Freedom and the Challenge of Election Misinformation Ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections
The 8th Bagauda Kaltho Media Lecture Series, organized by the Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) to commemorate the posthumous birthday of investigative journalist Bagauda Kaltho, was held as a memorial event and a platform for reflection on the state and future of journalism in Nigeria. The lecture focused particularly on the role of courageous journalism in combating misinformation and defending press freedom ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of Premium Times, who examined the historical contribution of journalism to Nigeria’s independence, democratic development and resistance to military rule, while highlighting the challenges confronting the profession in the digital age.
Following the keynote presentation and interactive discussions, the Lecture:
NOTED THAT:
1. Journalism has played a historic role in Nigeria’s development, including the struggle for independence, the defence of democratic values and resistance to military rule.
2. The legacy of journalists such as Bagauda Kaltho demonstrates the importance of courage, investigative journalism and professional commitment in holding power accountable.
3. The digital transformation of the media industry has significantly disrupted traditional media business models, contributing to economic pressures, underpaid journalists and weakened media institutions.
4. The approach to the 2027 general elections presents significant challenges for journalism, particularly because of the increasing use of artificial intelligence to produce fabricated election results, deepfake videos, manipulated audio and other deceptive content.
5. The speed and reach of social media platforms enable misinformation and disinformation to spread rapidly, often faster than professional journalists and fact-checkers can respond.
6. Journalists continue to face legal and institutional challenges, including concerns about the application of the Cybercrimes Act and the continued existence of outdated laws that restrict journalistic freedom.
7. The economic sustainability of media organisations remains a major concern for the survival of independent and professional journalism.
8. Existing fact-checking and verification tools can assist journalists and citizens in identifying false information, but these tools require greater awareness, accessibility, institutional support and scale.
9. Media literacy and critical thinking are essential to enabling citizens to question, verify and responsibly assess information before sharing it.
10. Journalism’s democratic responsibilities include holding power to account, drawing attention to development gaps and serving as a gatekeeper for truthful and credible information.
THE LECTURE THEREFORE RECOMMENDS THAT:
1. JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA ORGANISATIONS
• Strengthen professional and ethical standards in journalism, particularly in the use and verification of digital and AI-generated content.
• Invest in continuous training in fact-checking, digital verification, artificial intelligence and investigative journalism.
• Develop stronger newsroom systems for identifying and responding to misinformation before and during elections.
• Promote a culture of verification rather than simply reproducing information circulating on social media.
• Strengthen collaboration among media organisations, journalists’ unions, professional guilds and civil society organisations.
2. GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
• Support the development and wider availability of credible fact-checking and verification mechanisms.
• Strengthen constructive engagement between security institutions and the media rather than approaches that unnecessarily restrict legitimate journalism.
• Review and address outdated laws that continue to create obstacles to press freedom.
• Engage relevant legislative institutions on the repeal or reform of residual laws identified as restrictive to journalism.
3. TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES AND DIGITAL PLATFORMS
• Work with journalists, civil society and government institutions to address the spread of harmful disinformation.
• Explore measures to reduce the viral distribution of demonstrably false and harmful content.
• Support mechanisms that enable journalists and citizens to identify manipulated, synthetic and AI-generated content.
4. MEDIA LITERACY AND THE PUBLIC
• Promote media literacy and critical thinking at community level.
• Encourage citizens to pause, verify and question information before sharing it, particularly during election periods.
• Expand media-literacy initiatives through communities, schools, religious organisations and other relevant social institutions.
5. CAPACITY BUILDING
The Lecture recognized the importance of programmes that prepare young journalists for the changing media environment and encouraged continued investment in journalism education, ethical training and digital skills. The CJID Campus Journalism Programme was cited during the lecture as an example of such capacity-building efforts.
CALL TO ACTION
The Lecture called for a multi-stakeholder response involving journalists, media organisations, government institutions, technology companies, civil society, educators and citizens to strengthen the information environment ahead of the 2027 elections.
It emphasized that protecting credible journalism is not solely the responsibility of journalists. Citizens must develop the capacity to distinguish verified information from fabricated content, while institutions responsible for security, legislation and digital governance must create an environment in which legitimate journalism can operate effectively.
The Lecture further recognized the continuing relevance of the legacy of Bagauda Kaltho, whose memory provides a reminder of the risks journalists have historically faced in the pursuit of truth and public accountability. The event concluded with a commitment to continue honoring his memory while advancing press freedom and professional journalism in Nigeria and Africa.
ISSUED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE 8TH BAGAUDA KALTHO MEDIA LECTURE SERIES ON 19TH SEPTEMBER, 2026
SIGNED
Titus Usman in
Publisher, Jewel Treasure Newspaper
Gombe, Nigeria
Sekyen Dadik
Executive Director, AMDF
Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF)
Kaduna, Nigeria
