By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Association of Proprietors of Private Media Establishment of Nigeria (APPMEN) has inaugurated its Lagos State Council, unveiling a three-point agenda focused on professionalism, protection and prosperity for private media practitioners.
The inauguration took place on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at No. 133, Idimu-Ejigbo Road, Alimosho, Lagos, with the association’s National Coordinator, Chief Precious Enebuse, participating virtually from Abuja.
Enebuse described Lagos as Nigeria’s media capital and a strategic centre for the growth of private media establishments, stressing the need for a united voice to address the challenges confronting media proprietors.
In his keynote address, he said private media owners invested in platforms, employed staff and produced content but often lacked adequate representation and protection.
He charged the new council, led by Princess Agbonifo, to strengthen the voice of private media owners, promote development journalism and create opportunities for members to achieve financial sustainability.
Enebuse also called for professional training, grants and corporate partnerships to improve the capacity and economic prospects of private media establishments.
Speaking after taking her oath of office, Agbonifo unveiled a three-point agenda tagged The 3 Ps: Professionalism, Protection and Prosperity.
Under professionalism, she promised to organize quarterly masterclasses on fact-checking, investigative reporting, monetization and the use of artificial intelligence tools through the APPMEN Institute for Communication and Media Studies.
She also pledged to promote self-regulation and responsible journalism to tackle misinformation and strengthen public confidence in private media.
On protection, Agbonifo announced plans to establish a rapid response desk to assist members facing harassment, threats or intimidation in the course of their professional duties.
She said the council would engage the Lagos State Government, the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to address issues affecting the safety and operations of private media practitioners.
Under the prosperity agenda, she disclosed plans to engage corporate organizations, including banks, telecommunications companies and real estate firms, to secure advertising opportunities for members.
The council also plans to establish an APPMEN Lagos Cooperative to facilitate access to digital monetization opportunities, grants and loans.
Agbonifo set a target for every financially active member of the council to earn income through its initiatives on or before October 2027.
In a message, APPMEN’s Grand Patron described Lagos as the cradle of the Nigerian press, recalling that the country’s newspaper history began in 1859 when Reverend Henry Townsend established Iwe Irohin.
He urged the council to uphold professional standards, bridge the gap between traditional and digital media, strengthen fact-checking and build a collective advertising network for its members.
The Grand Patron also encouraged APPMEN to embrace emerging media practitioners, including content creators, YouTubers, podcasters and TikTokers, while maintaining professional standards.
As part of its proposed initiatives, he called for the establishment of an APPMEN Lagos Fact-Check Hub, a rapid response desk and a coordinated advertising network to improve collaboration and commercial opportunities among members.
In its communiqué, the newly inaugurated council pledged allegiance to the national leadership and committed itself to advancing professionalism, protection and prosperity within Lagos State’s private media sector.
It also called on unregistered private media proprietors in the state to join the association.
The ceremony ended with a vote of thanks by the State Publicity Secretary, Onome Naomi Onojaefe, followed by group photographs and networking.
