Nduka Obaigbena, the founding Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY Media Group and ARISE News Channel, delivered a rousing keynote at the 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference in Abuja, calling on media professionals to champion democracy, harness the power of artificial intelligence, and assert Africa’s presence in global media distribution.
Addressing over 500 editors, policymakers, and diplomats at the State House Conference Hall, Obaigbena unveiled plans for a new digital platform, Lekeelekee, set to launch in January 2026. The initiative, he said, aims to “dilute the chokehold of the United States and China” on global information and entertainment flows.
“We must engage for the greater good of Nigeria,” Obaigbena declared, invoking the memory of journalist Ken Saro-Wiwa, executed 30 years ago under military rule. “Thirty years later, we sit in this same complex under a democratic government, which is why democracy matters.”
In a sweeping address that wove together historical reflection, economic urgency, and media innovation, Obaigbena traced Nigeria’s journey from authoritarianism to democracy. He highlighted the enduring influence of media icons-turned-political leaders such as Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, and Bola Tinubu, underscoring the symbiotic relationship between journalism and governance.
President Bola Tinubu, who hosted the conference and is himself a former media proprietor, received praise from Obaigbena for maintaining open engagement with the press. “We are at the crossroads of reforms that have been hard fought,” Obaigbena said. “We must protect our economic stability with everything we have, because if we lose it, we lose the sacrifices of the last two years.”
He cautioned that external sanctions or disruptions could unravel recent fiscal progress, urging editors and leaders to “build a coalition of the willing” to tackle insecurity, poverty, and misinformation through national unity and dialogue.
Turning to the transformative impact of technology, Obaigbena warned that Africa risks becoming “a passive spectator” in an AI-driven media landscape dominated by a few global powers. “Google’s algorithms are changing, search models are shifting, and the monetisation of content is being rewritten,” he said. “If we do not act, we will again be consumers, not creators, in the new media economy.”
Lekeelekee, he explained, will serve as a pan-African multimedia hub, empowering creators, editors, and broadcasters to distribute and monetise content independently of Western and Chinese platforms. “We have a responsibility to build our own technology and algorithms,” he added, “to determine how our content is earned and shared.”
Themed “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors,” the conference drew a distinguished lineup of attendees, including President Tinubu; governors from Plateau, Zamfara, Nasarawa, and Kano States; federal ministers; diplomats; and veteran journalists such as Chief Segun Osoba, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, and Femi Adesina.
Obaigbena’s address set a bold tone for the conference, urging the Nigerian media to rise to the challenges of a changing world while safeguarding the democratic ideals that underpin the nation’s progress.
