Media Icons Celebrate Bayo Amodu’s Appointment as Leadership Newspapers Editor

Mary Nnah

Last weekend, the media community came alive with a vibrant celebration at Radisson Hotel, GRA Ikeja, as prominent journalists and communication professionals gathered to honor the appointment of Bayo Amodu as the Editor of Leadership Newspapers.
The event, hosted under the auspices of the Media Mastermind Group, a growing collective of senior journalists and media visionaries convened by news media thought leader Sam Adeoye, showcased Amodu’s enduring impact on the industry.

The evening’s tone was lively and personal, blending humour with earnest reflections as colleagues and peers poured out heartfelt tributes and shared anecdotes that showcased Amodu’s unwavering commitment to journalistic excellence.
Described as “always an editor” and “a leader who doesn’t chase awards but inspires award-winning work,” Amodu’s decades-long journey was hailed as a beacon of quality journalism.

Speakers, many of whom had traversed paths with him since their campus press days, lauded his editorial acumen and mentorship.

Nigerian media stalwarts including Mr. Lekan Babatunde, publisher of Brandcrunch; Mr. Yekeen Akinwale Nurudeen, Abuja Bureau Chief of The Cable Newspaper; Mr. Adesina Oyetayo, media adviser to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly; Mr. Samson Akintaro, Deputy Editor, Nairametrics; and Mr. Bolaji Abimbola, founder and CEO of Indigo PR, delivered insightful comments on the future of the news business.

“We are tremendously pleased that this gathering is in celebration of the accomplishment of our friend and brother, Bayo Amodu,” said Sam Adeoye, adding that, “The purpose of the Media Mastermind Group is not to teach members how to practice journalism; its purpose is to make journalism more fulfilling for practitioners and the public.”

The discussion was peppered with stories of mentorship, newsroom memories, and transformative editorial decisions. Other discussants at the event included Ms. Adetola Kayode, senior broadcast journalist at Lagos Television; Mr. Goddie Ofose, publisher of The Industry Newspaper; Mr. Sunday Oguntola, online editor, The Nation Newspapers; Mr. Adeyemi Adepetun, deputy business editor at The Guardian; Mr. Chris Pemu, General Manager, Nairametrics, and senior editors from The Guardian, Africa Report, Africa Interviews, Leadership, The Sun, Nairametrics.

As the conversation turned to the existential questions facing Nigerian news media, speakers explored innovative models for sustainability, from audience-funded reporting to impactful explainer journalism.
Participants debated how journalism can remain fulfilling in the age of artificial intelligence, what audience-centric storytelling looks like, and how relevance, rather than just content, can be leveraged.

“We are not just honouring a man; we are honouring a mindset,”, declared Arukaino Umukoro, editor of Africa Interviews. “Bayo represents the bridge between traditional newsroom integrity and the new age of media innovation.”

The consensus among participants was clear: this celebration marked the birth of a much-needed community in the news media, one that recognises the power of shared history and the urgency of evolving with the times.

The evening’s tone was a perfect blend of warmth, camaraderie, and intellectual curiosity, leaving attendees inspired and energised about the future of journalism in Nigeria.
As the gathering came to a close, it was evident that the Media Mastermind Group had achieved its purpose: to celebrate Amodu’s achievement while fostering a community that would drive positive change in the media landscape.