Eli Obaje
The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, has called on journalists to treat the 2026 Press Week as a moment for reflection, professional growth, unity, and renewed advocacy rather than a ceremonial gathering. Speaking during the NUJ FCT Press Week 2026 lecture, he stressed that the occasion should reinvigorate commitment to ethical reporting, press freedom, national development, and the welfare of media professionals nationwide.
Yahya described Press Week as a period of introspection and recommitment. He said it must serve as a platform to reaffirm the role of journalism in upholding accountability and to push for better conditions for those working in the profession across Nigeria. 
Addressing the shifting media environment, the NUJ president pointed to the challenges brought by digital communication, artificial intelligence, citizen journalism, and the rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation. He also noted the growing security risks that reporters face while carrying out their duties.
Despite these pressures, Yahya commended Nigerian journalists for their resilience, courage, and dedication to truth and public accountability. He described journalists as custodians of democracy, arguing that an independent and vibrant press is vital to holding leaders accountable and protecting justice, transparency, and good governance. “Without a vibrant and independent press, democracy itself becomes vulnerable,” he said.
The president acknowledged the NUJ FCT Council for its role in advancing professional standards and media excellence in the capital. He praised council members for their dedication and unity, saying their work strengthens the union’s broader mission.
He then outlined the persistent threats confronting journalists, including attacks, harassment, intimidation, poor remuneration, job insecurity, and unsafe working conditions. Yahya said the NUJ remains resolute in pushing for better welfare, insurance protection, prompt salary payments, and stronger institutional support, adding that a journalist working under fear or hardship cannot fulfill the responsibility of informing society.
Looking ahead, Yahya emphasized capacity building and adaptation. He said the future belongs to practitioners who are technology-savvy, fact-oriented, and ethically grounded, and urged reporters to resist sensationalism, political manipulation, ethnic bias, and unprofessional conduct. He pledged NUJ support for initiatives that strengthen fact-checking, digital literacy, investigative reporting, and ethical standards.
In closing, the NUJ president appealed to all levels of government and security agencies to respect press freedom and safeguard journalists performing lawful duties. He called on members to recommit to unity, mentorship, and preserving the dignity of the profession, and urged the media to promote peace, national unity, and issue-based reporting. “Let this Press Week serve as a platform for renewed collaboration between the media, government, civil society, and the Nigerian people in pursuit of a more just, peaceful, and prosperous nation,” he concluded.
