Celebrated media entrepreneur and host of viral talk show #WithChude, Chude Jideonwo was a panelist at the Media Sustainability Conference hosted by the Nigeria Media Innovation Program (NAMIP) and Daily Trust Foundation in Abuja.
In a session that explored future proofing the media business, he brought the conversation back to the core of journalism responding to reality.
While conversations around future proofing leaned heavily on innovation, digital transformation, and AI, Chude focused on the responsibility of journalists to stay rooted in the present moment. For him, understanding the realities people face and telling those stories with clarity is more urgent than adopting new tools for their own sake.
Though he is not personally on social media, Chude acknowledged its necessity for platforms like WithChude, where digital presence plays a critical role in amplifying voices and reaching audiences. But his focus remained on something deeper: the mindset of the journalist and the purpose of the work.
He made it clear that journalists should be able to respond to the reality of their time in order to be equipped to do the job. The challenge wasn’t about embracing or rejecting technology; it was about clarity of vision and a commitment to truth telling.
That session was moderated by Angela Agoawike, CEO of Omalicha Radio, and featured other panelists including Toun Okewale Sonaiya, CEO of Women Radio, and Chibuike Alagboso of Nigeria Health Watch.
Other speakers, including Naziru Mikail Abubakar, Motunrayo Alaka, and Dapo Olorunyomi, also emphasized the importance of strong leadership, values, and newsroom innovation that prioritizes trust, structure, and relevance.
Chude’s remarks served as a reminder that future proofing the media is not only a technical challenge; it is a leadership one. The tools will keep evolving, but it is the clarity, courage, and direction of media practitioners that will determine what survives.
