Dr. Yemi Farounbi, OON, media administrator, teacher and diplomat gave this keynote address in Ibadan on Monday April 13, 2026, at the 70th post-humous birthday of Tunde Idowu, an ace broadcaster who died in 1994 during the eerie days of military dictatorship, when fuel scarcity compounded the public angst against the annulment of the June 12 presidential election in Nigeria.
The former ambassador to the Philippines was General Manager at the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Ibadan, as well as NTA, Akure. His story is about a media manager who would not allow himself to be intimidated by power, either under the military or the civilian administration. He has not only trained and mentored many broadcasters, but he has also helped set up broadcast stations that have stood the test of time.
Everywhere he has been, either at the NTA or the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, BCOS, Ibadan, where he helped the administration of Chief Bola Ige, slain federal attorney general, set up the Television Service of Oyo State, TSOS (now BCOS TV) or the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, OSBC where he served as chairman. He played that role at the Ondo State Radiovision Corporation, Akure. His Midas touch gave the Daily Times some life before the authorities decided to sell the historic media company under President Olusegun Obasanjo.
A highly principled administrator and professional, if those who transferred him from NTA, Ibadan to the lesser graded station in Akure thought they could humiliate him, Farounbi’s tenure there became for him an opportunity to turn the station around. And he did just that such that the defunct Daily Sketch called him “The Messiah of NTA Akure”. But at the age of 37 years, Dr. Farounbi retired from the federal public service.
However, his discipline, remarkable intellect and principle continue to recommend him for greater responsibilities. After the exploits at the BCOS and Ondo State Radiovision Corporation, OSBC beckoned, the federal authorities also asked him to give direction to the Daily Times Plc, a job he did for four years, as the chairman of the board.
He is the brain behind the entertainment section that changed the scope of television in the 80s. But he did not stop at that, Dr. Farounbi, who has taught the post-graduate classes in the university, aside from being on the governing board of universities, a demonstration of his love for education he also produced films and drama sketches. These include IWA and AGBARIN For TV, and many epics such as ARELU, YANPONYANRIN, OMO NU OKU, JOMIJOKE, ORO IGBEYIN, AYE REE and AGBELEKU. But he is that colossus of a media manager that you cannot pigeonhole, because he did not confine himself to the electronic media. Rather, he wrote columns for newspapers like Sketch and the Nigerian Tribune. Dr. Farounbi also published a society magazine titled Lady Love. The keynote address:
Introduction: The Noble Calling and Its Hidden Cost:
Journalism in Nigeria is more than a profession—it is a calling. A calling to speak truth to power, to amplify the voices of the unheard, and to defend the fragile pillars of democracy. Yet, beyond the headlines we write and the stories we break lies a quieter, often ignored reality: the cost of doing this work. These are not always the dangers we signed up for. They are the unintended hazards—the risks that creep in quietly, shaping our lives, our safety, and even our sanity.
- The Hazard of Physical Danger:
We have seen colleagues brutalised while covering protests such as the End SARS protests. We have seen reporters caught in the crossfire of insurgency, particularly in areas affected by Boko Haram. The simple act of holding a microphone or a camera has, in many instances, become an act of courage.
- The Hazard of Silence Through Fear:
There is a growing, unspoken danger in our profession— not just violence, but fear.
- Fear of arrest.
- Fear of lawsuits.
- Fear of losing one’s job.
When journalists begin to self-censor, democracy itself begins to suffocate—not loudly, but quietly.
When journalists begin to self-censor, democracy itself begins to suffocate—not loudly, but quietly.
- The Hazard of Economic Vulnerability:
Let us speak honestly.
Many journalists in Nigeria operate under harsh economic realities:
- Poor remuneration
- Irregular salaries
- Lack of insurance and welfare
This creates a dangerous environment where integrity is constantly under pressure, and survival sometimes competes with ethics.
- The Hazard of Psychological Burden:
We report tragedies, but we rarely process them. We tell the stories of victims of violence, disasters, and loss—but who tells the story of the journalist? Behind the bylines are human beings carrying invisible wounds:
- Trauma
- Anxiety
- Emotional exhaustion
- The newsroom does not always provide space for healing.
- The Hazard of Digital Exposure:
In today’s digital age, the battlefield has expanded. Journalists are now targets of:
- Online harassment
- Cyberbullying
- Misinformation attacks
- Surveillance
A single report can unleash a storm that follows a journalist beyond the newsroom and into their personal lives.
- The Hazard of Ethical Crossroads:
Every journalist, at some point, stands at a crossroads:
- Truth or convenience?
- Integrity or compromise?
- Public interest or personal safety? These decisions shape not only our profession but our legacy.
- A Call to Reflection
- Ladies and gentlemen,
- If journalism is the watchdog of society, then who watches over the watchdog?
If we are defenders of democracy, then who defends us?
The Way Forward:
A Collective Responsibility:
To address these unintended hazards, we must act— collectively and decisively.
- Strengthen Institutional Protection:
Media organizations must prioritize the safety and welfare of their staff.
- Advocate for Press Freedom:
We must continue to demand laws and policies that protect, not persecute, journalists.
- Invest in Journalist’s Welfare:
Insurance, mental health support, and fair wages are not luxuries—they are necessities.
- Uphold Ethical Standards:
Even in the face of hardship, integrity must remain our compass.
- Build Solidarity Within the Profession:
An injury to one journalist must be treated as an injury to all.
Closing:
The Courage to Continue:
Let me conclude with this:
Journalism in Nigeria is not for the faint-hearted. It demands courage—not just to report the truth, but to live with its consequences.
Yet, despite the hazards, we continue.
(Journalism practice in Nigeria) demands courage—not just to report the truth, but to live with its consequences.
- We write.
- We speak.
- We expose.
- We endure.
Because somewhere in this country, a citizen depends on the truth we tell. And that truth—no matter how dangerous—is worth defending.
Final Charge:
Let us leave here today not discouraged, but resolved:
- To protect one another
- To strengthen our institutions
- To preserve the dignity of our profession
- And above all, to continue telling the Nigerian story—truthfully, courageously, and responsibly.
Thank you.