A veteran journalist and former lawmaker, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has called for deliberate mentorship of young journalists by experienced professionals, saying the wealth of knowledge accumulated by veteran practitioners must be transferred to the younger generation.
Ojudu, a former Managing Editor of the rested Newswatch/Tempo publications, made the call when members of the League of Veteran Journalists (LVJ), Ekiti State chapter, led by its Chairman, Prince Kayode Oni, visited him at his residence in Ado-Ekiti.
The visit was to brief him on the forthcoming Patrons and Matrons Day of the League, scheduled for September 2026, at which Ojudu is expected to serve as chairman.
According to the former journalist-turned-politician, veteran journalists should regularly engage with young practitioners and students of journalism to share their experiences, professional values and lessons from years of practice.
He commended the LVJ for bringing together journalists who had devoted significant portions of their lives to the profession, describing their era as a “golden time” in Nigeria’s journalism history.
Ojudu said many of the veterans practised during Nigeria’s post-independence years, military regimes and periods of political instability, noting that their experiences could provide valuable lessons for today’s practitioners.
He said journalism should not be viewed primarily as a means of making money, but as a profession with a responsibility to contribute to national development, promote good governance and defend the rights of citizens.
He also advocated the involvement of veteran journalists in tertiary institutions across the state, saying universities and other institutions could invite experienced practitioners to interact with students and expose them to the realities, sacrifices and challenges involved in building a credible journalism profession.
Ojudu, who served as the lawmaker representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District between 2011 and 2015, promised to attend the September event, describing it as an opportunity for journalists, lecturers, students of mass communication and other stakeholders to exchange ideas and draw from different perspectives on the profession.
Comparing journalism in his active years with contemporary practice, the former lawmaker expressed concern over what he described as the increasing prevalence of self-serving journalism.
He recalled that journalists of his generation spent much of their active years under military rule fighting for democracy, good governance, protection of citizens’ rights and an economy that would benefit the majority of Nigerians.
According to him, many practitioners today appear more focused on personal financial gains than on the broader responsibilities of journalism.
He also expressed concern over declining proficiency in the use of language among some contemporary journalists, stressing that language remains one of the most important tools of the profession.
Ojudu therefore urged veteran journalists to use their remaining years to mentor younger practitioners and help restore professionalism and excellence to journalism practice.
He further stressed the importance of a free and vibrant press to the survival of democracy, arguing that a democracy cannot thrive without a robust media capable of holding government and public officials accountable.
He charged journalists to continually question policies, investigate issues, expose wrongdoing and provide credible analysis for the benefit of society.
Ojudu lamented that many newspapers and other media platforms now lack the depth, quality of analysis and investigative journalism that characterised the profession in previous decades, describing the development as unfortunate.
He urged both veteran and younger journalists to work together to rebuild public confidence in the media and restore journalism to its critical role as a pillar of democracy and national development.
