IPI To Hold Its AGM In Ilorin December — Oloriewe Adedoyin

 

By Felix Ajide

Kwara State is set to host what promises to be one of the largest gatherings of media practitioners in the country when the Annual General Meeting ( AGM)/ Conference of IPI Nigerian Chaptet holds in Ilorin, the state capital, in December 2026.

A former Kwara State Commissioner for Information and Member of the IPI Executive Board ( representing Nigeria and Africa) in Vienna, Austria, disclosed this at the monthly meeting of the National League of Veteran Journalists (NALVEJ), Kwara State chapter, held at the NUJ Press Centre, Ilorin, on Wednesday.

It is the first time the AGM of IPI Nigeria will take place outside Abuja, the Federal Capital.

Adedoyin, who is the Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Herald Newspapers said the media gathering would attract journalists, media executives and other stakeholders from different parts of the country to Kwara State.

He described the forthcoming media event as a significant opportunity for the state to showcase its hospitality, cultural heritage and developmental potentials to the nation

The Oloriewe of Oroland, however, urged journalists in Kwara State to uphold the ethics of the profession and remain committed to factual, balanced and responsible reporting.

He cautioned media practitioners against sensationalism, fake news and reportage capable of unnecessarily heating up the political atmosphere in the state.

Adedoyin also advised journalists to give adequate attention to the activities, programmes and achievements of political actors and public officials, rather than concentrating solely on political controversies.

He said, “Politicians should tell us what they want to do or what they plan to do better if they are elected into public office.

“We must continue to be active and exercise our professional right by reporting the truth and avoiding false publicatiins as veterans and professionals.

“Let us strive to be professional in our practice and attitude because facts are the bedrock of professional journalism anywhere in the world.

“We should pay attention to reporting politicians who have worked and served their communities sincerely.”

On the political situation in Kwara State, Adedoyin maintained that the outcome of party primaries should not be allowed to tear political parties apart.

He said although some politicians who participated in the primaries might have been aggrieved by the outcome, such disagreements should be handled through established party mechanisms rather than being allowed to degenerate into a crisis.

According to him, the inability of some aspirants to secure victory at the grassroot level during party primaries should not be used as a basis for undermining the party or its leadership.

He urged politicians and their supporters to place the overall interest of their parties and the state above personal ambitions.

Earlier, twin sisters and veteran broadcasters, Hajia Amina Sani of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and Hajia Hadiza Sani of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), shared their experiences and professional journeys in journalism dating back to the 1980s.

 

The duo took members of the league through their experiences in the media industry, highlighting some of the challenges and changes that have characterised journalism practice over the decades.

The twin journalists expressed appreciation to members of NALVEJ for the warm reception accorded them and for providing an opportunity to reconnect with veteran colleagues and reminisce about their years in the profession.

Also present at the meeting was the recently retired Editor-in-Chief of the News Agency of Nigeria, Mr Folorunsho Ojo.

In his remarks, the Chairman of NALVEJ, Kwara State chapter, Alhaji Mohammed Tunde Akanbi, commended Adedoyin, the twin journalists and Ojo for honouring the invitation and contributing to the success of the meeting.

Akanbi said the presence of the veteran journalists underscored the importance of preserving the history, experiences and professional values of those who had contributed significantly to the development of journalism in Nigeria.

He said NALVEJ remained committed to promoting the welfare of veteran journalists, preserving the heritage of the profession and providing a platform for members to continue to contribute to society even after active service.

The chairman also recalled the recent loss of two members of the league, Sir Ademola Adetula, a former Editor of The Herald, and Mr Dotun Oladipo, publisher of The Eagle Online.

He described their deaths as a painful loss to the journalism community and prayed for the repose of their souls.

The meeting ended with renewed calls for professionalism, ethical journalism and greater solidarity among veteran and practising journalists in Kwara State.