Tony Doe
On June 22, 2025, the Nigeria Union of Journalists honoured former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello with a “Lifetime Achievement Award for Media Empowerment.” That same Yahaya Bello is currently facing serious corruption charges. The backlash was swift and deserved.
It’s not just about the award; it’s about what it represents: a media culture where public perception plays second fiddle to political relationship. Trust, once broken, takes deliberate work to rebuild. And as the media landscape faces its reckoning, it’s clear: industry players can’t afford to stay silent.
Among those quietly but purposefully stepping into this moment is the National Guild of Private Broadcast Managers (NGPBM), a body that has, until now, preferred a backseat approach. But as cracks in public trust widen, the Guild recognises its duty to help shape a more responsible future for Nigerian media.
What’s Driving the Trust Deficit?
Cosying Up to Power
When journalists decorate the accused with honours, the public doesn’t miss the message. The NUJ’s decision didn’t just disappoint, it confirmed suspicions that too many media houses are operating as public relations firms in disguise.
Dependence That Muzzles Independence
Many media outlets are tethered to government advertising, which often comes with unspoken expectations. It’s hard to report freely when your paycheck comes from the subjects you’re meant to scrutinise.
The Misinformation Epidemic
Social media is often blamed, but traditional media hasn’t done enough to differentiate itself. Reposting unverified stories or echoing political spin without context undermines the very credibility the industry claims to protect.
Growing Hostility Towards Journalists
Threats, intimidation, and arrests have become routine, especially in election seasons. When journalists are treated like enemies of the state, the public takes note and takes sides.
Where We Go From Here: Real Steps, Not Hollow Statements
1. Quiet Leadership from the Guild
The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers is uniquely positioned to bring private sector discipline into public media ethics. Without the bureaucracy of state-linked outfits, the Guild can promote internal accountability, raise editorial standards, and support stations willing to take a principled stand, even quietly. Their influence doesn’t have to be loud. It has to be lasting.
2. Transparent Practice Must Become the Norm
Media organisations should openly disclose how they’re funded and who owns them. Awards and recognitions must be subjected to scrutiny. The Guild can quietly encourage these standards within its membership before pushing for industry-wide adoption.
3. Investigative Journalism Needs More Than Applause
It needs protection, training, and long-term investment. The Guild can work with partners like the Nigeria Media Innovation Programme to fund and shield the kind of journalism that speaks truth to power, not whispers in the corridor.
4. Rebuild the Audience’s Tools, Not Just Their Trust
Media literacy should be championed as a national priority. Teach people, from classrooms to town halls, how to identify propaganda, misinformation, and spin. The Guild can seed these programmes through its member stations.
5. Collaboration Beats Isolation
Instead of competing over crumbs, media outlets, especially in the private space, can share resources for deeper reporting, co-produce high-quality content, and form networks for fact-checking and safety alerts.
6. Advocate for Safer Working Conditions
The Guild, alongside media unions and civil society, must press for legal protections and emergency protocols for journalists in distress. If the work is dangerous, there must be a safety net.
7. Break the Reliance on Political Patronage
Subscription models, crowdfunding, syndication, anything that reduces dependence on political actors should be explored and supported. The Guild can provide blueprints, case studies, and incentives for stations willing to break old habits.
Final Word
The NUJ’s award to Yahaya Bello wasn’t just a misstep; it was a mirror. A reminder of how far trust has eroded and how urgent reform has become. The public is not waiting for press conferences. They’re watching for proof.
The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers, with its quieter posture, can still have a steadying influence. In moments like this, quiet isn’t weak. It can be wise if it leads to visible change.
Nigerian media must decide what it wants to be: an echo or a conscience. The window for neutrality is closing. And the road to restoring trust begins with bold, unglamorous work. Behind the scenes or front and centre, everyone has a part to play.