Jakande Memorial Lecture Sees Governor Bala Mohammed’s Call

At the Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture, Governor Bala Mohammed champions journalism’s nation-building role, calling for truth, justice and unity in Nigeria

Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture served as a platform for Governor Bala Mohammed to issue a compelling call to action for journalists and citizens alike.

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Delivering the third edition of the lecture, the Bauchi State Governor honoured the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande as a beacon of truth and integrity in journalism and governance.

Speaking to a distinguished audience of media professionals, political leaders and academics, Governor Mohammed opened with a piercing quote from Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, reminding listeners that without truth and justice, education and exposure are meaningless.

“The press in Nigeria must not lose its soul in the noise of modern distractions,” he said, drawing attention to the roots of Nigeria’s nationhood in the bold journalism of icons like Nnamdi Azikiwe and Herbert Macaulay.

Jakande, the governor noted, did not separate his values as a journalist from his duties as a leader.

“Jakande governed with the pen still in his heart, even if not in his hand,” he said, adding that simplicity, honesty and accessibility defined Jakande’s legacy.

Governor Mohammed reflected on his own experiences, including the backlash he received for moving the Doctrine of Necessity in the Senate in 2010.

Like Jakande, he said, true leadership sometimes means enduring criticism for the greater good.

Turning to present-day challenges, he warned that the digital age had given rise to new threats. “Artificial intelligence now creates headlines, but who checks the heart behind them?” he asked.

Beyond technology, he pointed to internal weaknesses: the exploitation of young journalists, weak editorial standards and the slow erosion of media integrity.

Despite this, Governor Mohammed expressed hope. “Journalism is not just about reporting events. It is about shaping the nation’s soul,” he said.

Using Bauchi State as an example, he described how inclusive governance and equity had kept the state united and peaceful. “We appoint based on ability, not ancestry,” he added.

The governor outlined five core duties for the media: defend the rule of law, demand credible leadership, champion national reconciliation, promote civic education and clean up internal practices.

Ending on a powerful note, he urged the press to live up to Jakande’s example — building schools instead of empires, raising voices instead of silencing truth.

“Let the Nigerian press be remembered as the last men and women standing,” he declared.

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In memory of a man who built lives, not legacies, Governor Bala Mohammed’s address at the Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture was more than a tribute — it was a rallying cry for ethical journalism and a stronger nation.