Former Group Managing Director of the New Nigeria Development Company, Mohammed Hayatudeen, has described a free and independent press as indispensable to democratic governance, arguing that journalism serves as the most essential accountability mechanism available to any society that aspires to transparency and functional governance.
Hayatudeen, who also recently joined the African Democratic Congress, delivered the remarks as guest of honour at the 25th anniversary celebration of Independent Newspapers, where he used the occasion to outline what he described as three critical pillars for national greatness: the supremacy of strong institutions over strong men, the prioritization of production over consumption, and the building of trust as the foundation of governance and societal progress.
He stressed that strong institutions were essential for sustaining national progress beyond the influence of individual personalities, and that a productive economy driven by innovation and human capital development represented the most durable path to long-term prosperity. Trust, he argued, earned through consistency, accountability, and fairness, was equally indispensable, forming the bedrock of functional governance, thriving markets, and national cohesion.
Within this framework, Hayatudeen described the media as the institution most critical to building and sustaining that trust, calling journalism the lifeblood of democracy and an irreplaceable mechanism for holding power to account.
“A free and independent press serves as society’s early warning system. It shines light when there is darkness, asks questions where silence would be easier, and speaks truth where power may prefer convenience,” he said.
He concluded by affirming that Nigeria’s challenge was not a shortage of potential but a consistent failure to align its human and institutional resources toward a shared national purpose, calling on the media to continue playing its part in closing that gap.
