By GRACE ALEGBA

Former Military President Ibrahim Babangida has paid tribute to the late veteran journalist, Yakubu Mohammed, describing him as a symbol of integrity, humility and professionalism in Nigeria’s media landscape.

Babangida paid the tribute on Thursday in Lagos at the unveiling of the Newswatch 5 Lecture Series/ Tribute Session for the late Mohammed.

His speech was read at the event by a veteran journalist, Malam Mohammed Haruna.

Mohammed died on Jan. 13.

The late Dele Giwa, late Dan Agbese, late Yakubu Mohammed, Mr Ray Ekpu and Mr Soji Akinrinade were the Newswatch men.

The event was organised by the Olori Janet Afolabi Foundation.

Janet Afolabi, wife of the traditional ruler of Apomu in Osun State, Oba Kayode Afolabi, was a former staff of Newswatch magazine.

The former military president said Mohammed’s death, coming shortly after that of Agbese, was a huge loss to journalism and the wider society.

According to him, while journalists are often perceived as adversaries of leaders, their role remains indispensable in shaping governance and reflecting public opinion.

“A leader needs the friendship and confidence of journalists, not only to communicate policies effectively but also to stay informed about the mood of the nation,” he said.

Babangida said that a free and responsible press was critical to national development, adding that good journalism ranked just after good governance in importance.

He described Mohammed as part of a “legendary quartet” that set enduring standards for journalism practice and ethics in Nigeria.

The former leader said he knew Mohammed for decades and valued his friendship, adding that the late journalist embodied courage, fairness and commitment to truth.

He also commended Mohammed’s memoir, Beyond Expectations, describing it as a rich compilation of insights, analysis and historical accounts of Nigeria’s media evolution.

Babangida said the book provided what he called validation of his own memoir, A Journey in Service, particularly on controversies surrounding the death of Dele Giwa and the Gloria Okon story.

He said Mohammed’s account helped to clarify issues and counter what he described as deliberate misinformation that hindered objective investigations at the time.

Babangida warned against spread of fake news and unverified reports, especially in the era of social media, stressing that journalism must remain rooted in facts and ethical standards.

“Now more than ever, a distinction must be made between true journalism, which insists on facts and fairness, and content driven by propaganda and sensationalism,” he said.

Babangida urged media professionals to uphold professionalism and safeguard the integrity of the media, saying that the legacy of Mohammed should inspire higher standards.

He added that responsibility rested on stakeholders to ensure that journalism would not fall into the hands of untrained and unprofessional individuals.

Babangida prayed for the repose of Mohammed’s soul and sympathised with his family, colleagues and the media community in general.

Speaking in his own capacity, Haruna, described the late Mohammed as a gentleman of the press whose life reflected humility, integrity and professional excellence.

Haruna recalled Mohammed’s career from the New Nigerian Newspaper, which he joined in 1976 and rose to become the Managing Editor.

He said Mohammed later moved to the Concord Group as a pioneer Deputy Editor under Chief M.K.O. Abiola, where he worked alongside Dele Giwa and Ray Ekpu.

According to him, the trio went on to found Newswatch magazine, which became Nigeria’s leading weekly newsmagazine and set high standards in journalism.

Haruna described Mohammed as humble and selfless, saying that in spite of conceiving Newswatch, he chose to remain at the background.

He said Mohammed’s death came as a shock. He prayed for the repose of his soul and strength for his family.

On his part, Ray Ekpu said that Mohammed was the brain behind founding of Newswatch but took the back seat because of his humble nature.

He described him as a very decent human being and a very good journalist.

He urged the younger generation of journalists to emulate his virtue of integrity.

“He never collected bribes as a journalist. Integrity is very important in this job. Also, being thorough is very important,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event brought together tradition rulers, Mohammed’s family members, journalists, media executives and other journalism stakeholders to celebrate the life and contributions of the late Mohammed. (NAN)

•PHOTO: Some dignitaries at the unveiling of the Newswatch 5 Lecture Series/ Tribute Session for the late veteran journalist Yakubu Mohammed in Lagos