The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has rejected calls to apologise for her criticism of some journalism practices in Nigeria, urging media veterans and trained journalists to work towards restoring professionalism and ethical standards in the industry.
Dabiri-Erewa made her position known in a response to Livinus Chibuike Victor, who had demanded a public apology over her remarks about the state of journalism in the country.
She acknowledged Victor’s concerns about challenges facing the profession but described his demand for an apology as misplaced, insisting that the focus should be on addressing the decline in professional standards.
The NiDCOM boss argued that the erosion of ethics and accountability in journalism required collective action from experienced practitioners and relevant media organisations.
She recalled her time in the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2015, when she chaired the House Committee on Media and championed the Journalism Enhancement Bill in 2010.
According to her, the proposed legislation was intended to establish professional standards for journalism, including clearer expectations around training and qualifications.
Dabiri-Erewa argued that, unlike professions such as medicine, law and accountancy, journalism lacked similar entry requirements, allowing people without formal training or certification to present themselves as journalists.
She said the proposed bill faced resistance from people who, in her view, should have supported efforts to strengthen the profession.
Calls on media bodies to act
Dabiri-Erewa urged Victor to work with journalism veterans and other trained practitioners to promote responsible reporting rather than focus on securing an apology.
She also reflected on her own experience in the profession, recalling the training and mentorship she received from lecturers in the Mass Communication Department of the University of Lagos.
Describing journalism as the profession that nurtured her, she said she was willing to join other media practitioners in addressing the challenges facing the industry.
She called on the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Guild of Editors, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and other media stakeholders to take a more active role in protecting professional standards and the dignity of journalism.
Dabiri-Erewa maintained that restoring public confidence in the media would require a renewed commitment to ethics, responsible reporting and professional accountability.
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