DOZENS OF Nigeria’s media elite to confront AI era in Abeokuta summit as they gather from May 5–6 May for the 3rd Nigerian Media Leaders’ Summit, a pivotal two-day forum aimed at redefining how journalism connects with audiences in the artificial intelligence age.
The summit, convened by Taiwo Obe, Founder and Director of The Journalism Clinic, is expected to host around 60 senior professionals. Attendees include newspaper publishers, editors-in-chief, television and radio chief executives, general managers, directors of programmes, and editors from across the country.
Backed by a formidable coalition of sponsors and partners—including Nigeria’s Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG), the Lagos and Ogun State governments, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidelity Bank, and Polaris Bank—the summit reflects a growing urgency among media leaders to adapt and innovate amid technological disruption.
One of the summit’s major highlights is the OWNERS’ FORUM, a marquee panel featuring five influential media owners who will share case studies and candid insights into navigating audience relationships in today’s fragmented media environment.
Confirmed panellists include:
Frank Aigbogun, Publisher, Business Day
Joseph Adeyeye, CEO/Editor-in-Chief, Punch Newspapers
Toun Okewale Sonaiya, CEO, WFM 91.7FM—Nigeria’s only women-focused radio station
Betty Dibiah Akeredolu-Ale, CEO, Branama TV—Nigeria’s first TV channel for children
Musikilu Mojeed, COO/Editor-in-Chief, Premium Times
A statement notes that the forum will be moderated by journalist and former presidential aide, Tolu Ogunlesi.
Convener, Taiwo Obe described the summit as “an occasion for the leaders to square up to their markets for enduring prosperity, particularly in the age of artificial intelligence,” underscoring the urgency of aligning newsroom strategy with technological and social shifts.
Describing it as a cooperative legacy from last year’s summit, Obe said the Abeokuta gathering will build on momentum from the previous edition, where robust dialogue around sustainability led to the formation of the Innovative Media Partners Cooperative Multi-purpose Society (IMPCMS).
The initiative, he said, was directly inspired by a presentation titled WHERE’S THE MONEY, which urged industry leaders to rethink collective action in tackling media financing.
With major support from prominent Nigerian newspapers such as The Punch, The Nation, The Cable and Business Day, as well as stakeholder bodies like the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), and international advisory firm Innovation Media Consulting Group (IMCG), Obe affirmed that the summit is set to become a focal point for the future of journalism in Africa’s largest media market.
