Media industry leaders, economic experts and key stakeholders are set to examine the challenges confronting Nigeria’s media industry and chart a sustainable growth path at the official launch of BusinessDiary Newspaper, scheduled for January 28, 2027, in Lagos.
The event, which will also mark the newspaper’s first anniversary of print publication, will hold at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, under the theme, ‘Navigating Nigeria’s Media Landscape in a Challenging Economy’, with ‘The Role of Nigerian Media in Financial Inclusion’ as its sub-theme.
The Founder and Chairman of Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) Microfinance Bank, Dr Godwin Ehigiamusoe, will chair the occasion, while the Editor-in-Chief and Chief Operating Officer of Premium Times, Mr Muskilu Mojeed, will deliver the keynote address.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Financial Journalism, Dr Ray Echebiri, will lead discussions on the sub-theme, focusing on the media’s critical role in advancing financial literacy, inclusion and access to financial services.
The conference is expected to bring together media executives, financial sector leaders, policymakers, regulators, business owners and other stakeholders to examine the sustainability of media businesses amid rising operating costs, changing audience behaviour, technological disruption and intensifying competition.
Speaking ahead of the event, Publisher and Editor of BusinessDiary Newspaper, Mr Zaka Khaliq Olalekan, described the theme as timely, noting that, Nigeria’s media industry, particularly, the print subsector, was facing mounting pressures from rising production costs, shrinking readership and a challenging operating environment.
He said, surviving as a national newspaper in the current economic climate required media owners to rethink traditional business models, embrace innovation and develop sustainable revenue streams beyond conventional advertising and circulation.
According to him, media organisations must become more creative in their approach to content development, audience engagement, distribution and business management to remain competitive and financially viable.
Khaliq stressed that, the survival of media organisations was also important to the financial sector, given their critical role in promoting financial inclusion, educating consumers and deepening public understanding of financial products and services.
He said, the stronger and more sustainable media organisations became, the greater their capacity to support financial literacy, responsible financial decisions and broader economic participation.
He explained that, BusinessDiary had carefully selected experienced professionals from the media and financial sectors to provide practical insights into the industry’s challenges and identify strategies that would help existing and emerging media entrepreneurs navigate the difficult business environment.
The Publisher also highlighted the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on business journalism, warning that, media organisations must develop capabilities beyond what automated tools can offer if they are to remain relevant in an increasingly competitive industry.
He noted that, investigative reporting, credible analysis, professional judgement, specialised industry knowledge and original journalism would become even more important as AI reshapes news production and distribution.
The event is expected to attract high-profile government officials and private sector leaders, with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Olayemi Cardoso; Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi; and Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of the National Insurance Commission, Mr Olusegun Omosehin, among the invited Special Guests of Honour.
Others expected at the event nclude: the Director-General of the National Pension Commission, Ms Omolola Oloworaran; representatives of the Federal Government; Lagos and Ogun State governments; heads of regulatory agencies; trade unions; managing directors and chief executives of corporate organisations; members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ); students and other industry stakeholders.
The gathering is expected to provide a platform for robust conversations on media sustainability, the future of print journalism, the economics of news production, digital transformation and the opportunities available to media entrepreneurs in Nigeria’s evolving economy.
BusinessDiary commenced its print publication in January 2026 as a weekly national business newspaper, circulating across newsstands in Lagos, Ogun, Abuja, Edo and other parts of the country.
The newspaper subsequently transitioned to a twice-weekly publication, appearing on Mondays and Thursdays, as part of efforts to expand its coverage and strengthen its presence in Nigeria’s business and financial journalism landscape.
With its long-term ambition of becoming a daily national and Pan-African business newspaper, BusinessDiary aims to establish itself as a leading source of business intelligence, financial news, policy analysis and corporate reporting for decision-makers, investors and other players in the African economy.
The January 28 event will therefore combine the newspaper’s first anniversary celebration with a wider industry conversation on the future of Nigerian journalism and the need to build resilient media institutions capable of thriving in a challenging economic environment.
