Media executives in Kano have thrown their weight behind the newly established League of Kano Veteran Journalists (LKVJ), pledging to work with the association to rebuild professional standards, revive mentorship and tackle the worsening welfare challenges confronting journalists in the state.
The commitment was made separately by the managements of Freedom Radio, Arewa Radio and Express Radio when the Interim Management Committee of the League embarked on advocacy visits to the three media organisations on Tuesday.
The media executives described the emergence of the League as timely, warning that the journalism profession was increasingly in need of experienced hands to guide younger practitioners, strengthen ethical standards and restore public confidence in the media.
They particularly identified the decline of the traditional culture of mentorship as one of the challenges undermining journalism, arguing that younger journalists increasingly lack access to the experience and professional guidance of veteran practitioners.
“We are impressed with your mission to contribute positively towards enhancing professionalism. We are eager to collaborate, especially in the areas of training and mentoring,” the media managers said.
The executives stressed that journalism, like other professions, requires continuous learning and professional development, saying the experience accumulated by veteran journalists should be deliberately transferred to younger practitioners.
They linked the absence of effective mentorship to the proliferation of unprofessional practices and declining quality of media output in some organisations.
Beyond professional standards, the media chiefs expressed concern over the deteriorating welfare conditions confronting many journalists, particularly seasoned and retired practitioners who have spent decades serving the industry.
They noted that some veteran journalists were battling serious health and economic challenges, urging the League to develop practical initiatives capable of supporting members and protecting their dignity after years of service.
The executives also criticised what they described as inadequate attention to issues affecting the media industry in Kano, calling for greater advocacy around journalists’ working conditions, professional standards and welfare.
They, however, advised the League to establish sustainable revenue streams to finance its programmes and reduce dependence on external support.
The Group General Manager, Operations and Acting Group Managing Director of Freedom Radio, Malam Adamu Isma’il Garki, said the station shared many of the ideals and aspirations of the League’s leadership.
Garki said Freedom Radio remained committed to professional and ethical journalism and was continuously working to ensure that its operations complied with relevant ethical standards.
He expressed readiness to explore areas of collaboration that could strengthen professionalism and improve the quality of journalism in Kano.
At Express Radio, the Managing Director, Alhaji Ali Baba Kusa, highlighted the station’s emphasis on continuous training for its staff.
“We conduct series of training for each department and collaborate with organisations such as the BBC to provide professional development opportunities. Moreover, we try to comply with the Nigeria Broadcasting Code,” Kusa said.
At Arewa Radio, the League’s delegation was received by the Manager, News and Current Affairs, Abdurrahman Balarabe Isa, who assured the visitors that the station remained open to initiatives aimed at advancing journalism and professional development.
Earlier, the Chairman of the League’s Interim Management Committee, Aminu Mahmud, said the organisation was established not only to protect the interests of veteran journalists but also to contribute to the renewal of journalism in Kano.
Mahmud said the League would continue engaging media organisations, professional bodies and other stakeholders to promote ethical journalism, strengthen professional capacity and revive the culture of mentorship.
He argued that the experience of veteran journalists remained an important resource that should not be allowed to disappear from the profession.
The chairman called for stronger collaboration between media organisations and the League, saying collective action was required to “sanitise” the profession and restore public confidence in journalism.
He said the League would also focus on the welfare of veteran practitioners, particularly those facing health and economic difficulties after years of service to the industry.
The advocacy delegation was accompanied by the Secretary, Board of Trustees of the League, Alhaji Abdulkadir Ahmad Ibrahim.
The growing support from the three Kano-based media organisations signals a potentially broader partnership between the old and new generations of journalists—with mentorship, ethics and welfare emerging as the three pillars of the League’s campaign to rebuild the profession.