All Set For 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference In Abuja

Preparations have been concluded for the 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC), scheduled to take place in the Federal Territory (FCT), Abuja, from Wednesday, November 12 to Thursday, November 13, 2025.

According to a statement signed by Eze Anaba, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and Onuoha Ukeh, General Secretary, the conference will bring together more than 500 editors from across the country, alongside top government officials, media leaders, academics, and members of the diplomatic community.

President Bola Tinubu is expected to declare the conference open at the State House Conference Centre, Aso Villa, on Wednesday. Also expected at the opening ceremony are several state governors, ministers, and other dignitaries.

The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman of Arise News and ThisDay Newspapers, will serve as Chairmen of the Conference. At the same time, Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, will deliver the keynote address.

Other governors expected to attend include Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), and Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano).

Prominent media figures such as Chief Segun Osoba, former Ogun State Governor; Chief Onyema Ugochukwu; Mr Femi Adesina and Mallam Garba Shehu, both former presidential media aides; Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, Executive Secretary of NEITI; and Mr Ukpe Anietie, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Senate President, are also billed to participate.

Themed “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors,” with a sub-theme “Electoral Integrity and Trust Deficit: What Nigerians Expect in 2027,” the conference will explore the role of editors in strengthening democratic institutions, fostering unity, and promoting responsible journalism in a rapidly changing political environment.

According to the NGE, the two-day event will feature panel discussions, keynote presentations, and an Executive Session where editors will engage directly with government officials, political leaders, and business executives on issues of national importance.

Distinguished speakers lined up for the conference include Prof. Awa Kalu (SAN), who will address participants on “Election Disputes and Judicial Integrity: Navigating the Thin Line Between Law and Politics”; and Prof. Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, Head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Abuja, who will speak on “State of the Nation: Imperative of Economic and Political Reforms in a Challenged Nation.”

On the second day, at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Conference Centre, former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd), will discuss “Media, Terrorism, and National Security: Addressing the Complexities.” Also, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, Dean of Postgraduate Studies, Baze University, will deliver a paper on “The Evolving Face of Journalism: Battling Misinformation, AI Disruption, and Credibility Gap.”

The Guild also announced several corporate partners for the conference, including Air Peace Airlines, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, among others.

The NGE described the annual conference as the largest gathering of editors and media executives in Nigeria, providing a platform to discuss the state of the media, democracy, and national development.