Media Strategists Task Journalists On Developmental Journalism

Media strategists have urged journalists to go further in reporting solutions rather than focusing only on society’s problems in Africa.

The media strategists disclosed this yesterday during a virtual discussion on developmental journalism and the review of Africa Indicator, a publication set for launch soon by Olatunji Oke, the founding editor of Lagos Indicator and later Nigeria Indicator.

According to the media executives, journalists must focus on solution-driven stories that address the nation’s pressing challenges rather than inflame tensions.

Speaking on the need for developmental journalism, Oke said, “Africa needs its narrative on progress. Not one was curated from abroad, but one was told by Africans, for Africans. We’re building an editorial ecosystem for development journalism that can stand alongside international media benchmarks. One day, when people ask where Africa’s development story was recorded, we want the Africa Indicator to be the answer. It’s not just about reporting progress. It’s about shaping the memory of progress itself.”

A media strategist, Dayo Ojo, disclosed that Oke is no stranger to innovation in journalism. He added that as the founding editor of Lagos Indicator and later Nigeria Indicator, his work has consistently bridged the gap between government policy and public awareness. But now, Oke’s ambition is continental.

He said, “With plans underway to launch Africa Indicator, Oke is poised to scale his development journalism model beyond Nigeria, positioning it as Africa’s first pan-continental journal dedicated to chronicling public policy, development programs, and democratic accountability.

The idea builds on Oke’s experience in documenting the policies, programs, and projects of Lagos State since 2007. As Editor-in-Chief of Nigeria Indicator, he took the same ethos to the national level, capturing reforms in agriculture, education, infrastructure, health, and gender equity. His coverage has ranged from rice value chain investments in Kebbi to solar electrification projects in Ondo and youth employment programs in the Northeast.

Another media strategist and Oke’s colleague, Ayo Bello, said, “Telling the story of policy through people makes his work special. With Africa Indicator, he’s elevating that skill to a continental scale. The new publication, expected to launch in 2025, will spotlight flagship development projects across the African Union’s 55 member states. It will offer comparative policy features, project spotlights, citizen voices, case studies, and interviews with ministers, technocrats, and local community leaders. Oke envisions it as a knowledge-sharing platform for governments, civil society, media professionals, and the general public.”

A journalist and writer, Femi Samuel, said that backed by a coalition of African development agencies, universities, and private media investors, Africa Indicator is already seen as a much-needed intervention in reframing African governance from within.

“Oke also plans to develop a digital repository alongside the journal, allowing open access to government data, community impact reports, and verified statistics, all layered with rich storytelling. This platform would empower researchers, students, policy analysts, and media outlets across the continent. If successful, it could become a definitive record of Africa’s development era — told through the lens of those shaping and living it,” he said.