In a vibrant show of camaraderie, media excellence, and deep respect, Nigeria’s leading journalists and communication professionals gathered over the weekend at Radisson Hotel, GRA Ikeja to honour the newly appointed Editor of Leadership Newspaper, Mr. Bayo Amodu, in what became a warm, free-flowing, and thought-provoking “carnival-like conversations.”
Hosted under the auspices of the Media Mastermind Group, a growing collective of senior journalists and media visionaries convened by news media thought leader Sam Adeoye, the event offered both a celebration of Amodu’s professional journey and a forum to dissect the future of journalism in a rapidly evolving media ecosystem.
The evening’s tone was lively and personal, blending humour with earnest reflections.
Described as “always an editor” and “a leader who doesn’t chase awards but inspires award-winning work,” Bayo Amodu’s decades-long commitment to quality journalism was widely acknowledged by speakers, many of whom traced their paths back to the campus press community.
Nigerian media stalwarts including Mr. Lekan Babatunde, publisher of Brandcrunch; Mr. Yekeen Akinwale Nurudeen, Abuja Bureau Chief of The Cable Newspaper; Mr. Adesina Oyetayo, media adviser to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly; Mr. Samson Akintaro, Deputy Editor, Nairametrics; and Mr. Bolaji Abimbola, founder and CEO of Indigo PR delivered insightful comments on the future of the news business.
“We’re tremendously pleased that this gathering is in celebration of the accomplishment of our friend and brother, Bayo Amodu,” said Adeoye, adding that, “The purpose of the Media Mastermind Group is not to teach members how to practice journalism; it’s purpose is to make journalism more fulfilling for practitioners and the public.”
Other discussants at the event were Ms. Adetola Kayode, senior broadcast journalist at Lagos Television; Mr. Goddie Ofose, publisher of The Industry Newspaper; Mr. Sunday Oguntola, online editor, The Nation Newspapers; Mr. Adeyemi Adepetun, deputy business editor at The Guardian; Mr. Chris Pemu, General Manager, Nairametrics, and senior editors from The Guardian, Africa Report, Africa Interviews, Leadership, The Sun, Nairametrics. were in attendance.
Stories of mentorship, newsroom memories, and transformative editorial decisions peppered the tributes.
Beyond the celebrations, the session doubled as a stimulating dialogue addressing existential questions facing Nigerian news media: How can journalism remain fulfilling in the age of artificial intelligence? What does audience-centric storytelling look like? Can relevance, rather than just content, be leveraged? Speakers explored new models for sustainability, from audience-funded reporting to impactful explainer journalism.
“We are not just honouring a man; we are honouring a mindset,” said Arukaino Umukoro, editor of Africa Interviews. “Bayo represents the bridge between traditional newsroom integrity and the new age of media innovation.”
Participants agreed on one key takeaway: the was a birth of a much-needed community in the news media, one that recognizes the power of shared history and the urgency of evolving with the times.