On Tuesday 25th of April 2017,a few leading voices in the media industry predominantly females,gathered to host Editor-in-Chief of Genevieve Magazine, Betty Irabor who recently clocked 60. The event which held at Agip Hall, Muson Centre, Lagos, Nigeria was organised as part of activities marking the 60th birthday anniversary of media icon, Betty Irabor and it was themed “Integrity Matters.The event had top media owners speaking on the need for the new age media practitioners to make truth and detailed reporting the core of the revered occupation.Giving the opening remarks, Soni Irabor made glowing remarks about his wife Betty Irabor noting her strength and consistency has kept her publishing business at the fore. Keynote speaker, Dr. Doyin Abiola revealed how hard it is to maintain integrity in Nigeria which comes harder for a woman in power noting how unprofitable the publishing business is. She noted that “no publication is making healthy profit in Nigeria”. The event was organised by a number of organisations including Genevieve Magazine, Women in Journalism Africa and several other journalism-based outlets to highlight the importance of maintaining high journalism standards and the ethics of the profession. The likes of Doyin Abiola, Adesuwa Onyenokwe the publisher of Todays Woman, Soni Irabor, Tara Durotonye, Funke Egbemode, Eunice Efole,Azuka Of Thisday, and several media personalities from NTA, Genevieve Magazine, and other media houses graced the event. At the ceremony, a close friend of the celebrant Dr Doyin Abiola who also inspired Betty into journalism and also gave her the first platform that ushered her into media, spoke glowing about Betty and the special relationship they share. Also, Todays Woman Publisher Adesuwa Onyenokwe revealed what they share in common and why she holds the celebrant in a very high esteem. A panel of 4 seasoned journalists in the persons of Funke Egbemode, Chude Jideowo, Reuben Abati and defunct Next Magazine editor Kadaria Ahmed gave a talk on intergrity in journalism and the effects of the new media ,The heated session revealed the shortcomings of the profession with emphasis on the ills of social media as a tool and the influx of people looking to make fast money as against educating or properly informing the public.
Ahmed advocated for better renumeration and working conditions for journalists while Jideonwo emphasized on the effect of social media few questions were entertained and thereafter, a photo session. The celebrant Betty who was overjoyed gave a note of thanks and a speech on her experience so far in the industry. A light refreshment was also served. Some of the faces present at the event were Maide Ibru, Doyin Abiola, Mimi Onalaja who anchored the red carpet for Ebony Life tv, Soni Irabor, Liz Osho, Adesuwa Onyenokwe,Publisher of The Guardian, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru, President Nigerian Guild of Editors, Funke Egbemode, Managing Director of defunct Concord Newspapers, Dr. Doyin Abiola, Dr. Reuben Abati; Publisher of Today’s Woman magazine, Adesuwa Onyenokwe, Biola Alabi, Liz Osho, Onah Nwachukwu, Chude Jideonwo and more were present at the event.
– VIVIAN ONUORAH
