Media
Sustainability
Conference
THEME: Future-proofing Nigeria’s Journalism Media – A Sustainability Dynamic
Jointly organized by the Daily Trust Foundation and Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF)
Live in Abuja, Nigeria | July 30 – 31, 2025
Event Moderator: Eugenia Abu
Fu’ad Lawal
Editor-in-Chief, Archivi.ng
Harlan Mandel
CEO – Media Development Investment Fund
Ruona Meyer,
NAMIP Advisory Committee
Malam Bilya Bala
Chairman, Daily Trust Foundation
Prof. Suleiman Yar’Adua,
NAMIP Advisory Committee Member
Hon. Alhaji Mohammed Idris
Minister of Information and National Orientation
Asha Mwuli,
Founder, Debunk Media
Lekan Otufodunrin
Executive Director, Media Career Development Network
Temitayo Akinyemi,
NAMIP Media Advisor
Dapo Olorunyomi
Publisher, Premium Times & CEO, CJID
Vivian Ojomu
NAMIP Program Assistant
Bilal Randeree
Chief Program Officer, MDIF
Chude Jideonwo
CEO, Joy Inc
Fran Beighton
Head of Growth, Daily Maverick
Dara Ajala
NAMIP Program Manager, MDIF
Deji Adekunle
NAMIP Program Director, MDIF
Prof. Umaru Pate
Vice Chancellor of Federal University Kashere, Gombe State
Catherine Gicheru
Board Member, MDIF
Motunrayo Alaka
Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism
Mannir Dan-Ali Daily Trust Foundation
Angela Agoawike
CEO, Omalicha Radio
Toun Sonaiya
CEO, Women Radio
Isiaq Ajibola,
Former Managing Director of Media Trust Group
2 Days
10 Panel Discussions & Workshops
15+ Speakers
Event Schedule
Wednesday
Day 1
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Welcome and Introduction
Eugenia Abu
We open with a warm welcome from the event’s hosts, followed by a special 15-minute screening of The NAMIP Story, a visual journey through three years of growth, experimentation, and impact across Nigeria’s media landscape.
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Opening Addresses
Malam Bilya Bala, Chairman, Daily Trust Foundation
Harlan Mandel, CEO, Media Development Investment Fund
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Keynote Address
Dr. Kole Shettima, Director, Nigeria Officer, MacArthur Foundation
Topic: Media Sustainability and National Accountability What is the role of media in strengthening democratic accountability? Dr. Shettima explores the link between sustainable journalism and good governance, and why strong, independent media remains important for Nigeria’s future.
10:45 AM – 11:15 AM
Goodwill Messages
Speakers
- International Press Institute (IPI)
- Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE)
- Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)
- Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN)
- Hon. Muhammad Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation
11:15 AM – 11:45 AM
Tea Break
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM
Presentation and Dialogue: Data-Driven Media Development – NAMIP in 3 Years
Moderator: Lekan Otufodurin
What does three years of hands-on support for independent media look like when measured in impact, data, and lessons learned? This opening session offers a behind-the-scenes look at the origin story of NAMIP, key milestones, and the program’s evolving outlook for media development in Nigeria, an honest conversation on what worked, what didn’t, and why.
Presentation & Dialogue:
- Deji Adekunle, NAMIP Program Director
- Dara Ajala, NAMIP Program Manager
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Keynote Addresses
Speaker: Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher, Premium Times & CEO, CJID
Sustainable and Thriving: The Agile Media Organization
Speaker: Bilal Randeree, Chief Program Officer, MDIF
Habits of Sustainable Media Organizations Globally
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Lunch and Networking
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Fireside Chat: Sustainability Rises and Falls on Leadership – Strategies to Equip Media Leaders for a Sustainable Future
Interviewer: Chude Jideonwo
Speaker: Harlan Mandel, CEO, MDIF
Good ideas and solid strategy won’t save a newsroom without strong leadership. In this conversation, Harlan Mandel reflects on the leadership choices that make or break sustainability.
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Panel Discussion: Media Advisory and Support – Lessons from the NAMIP Advisory Committee
Lead Discussant: Catherine Gicheru, NAMIP Advisory Chair
Panelists:
- Ruona Meyer, NAMIP Advisory Committee
- Prof. Suleiman Yar’Adua, Bayero University, Kano
- Motunrayo Alaka, Executive Director, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Panel Discussion: Maximising Revenue in Media Operations
Moderator: Temitayo Akinyemi, NAMIP Media Advisor
Panelists:
- Yusuf Omotayo, Senior Associate Editor (The Republic)
- Gloria Edukere, Business Lead (Communique)
- Toun Okewale-Sonaiya (Women Radio)
- Fran Beighton, Head of Growth (Daily Maverick)
4:45 PM – 5:30 PM
Evening Dialogue: The realities of doing journalism & running a sustainable media business in Nigeria.
Lead Discussant: Deji Adekunle
It’s not all success stories. This honest, informal dialogue takes stock of what it really means to build and run a media business in Nigeria in a tough economy, with shrinking trust, and limited support. What’s the true cost of impact? And where do we go from here?
Panelists:
- Isiaq Ajibola, Former Managing Director of Media Trust Group
- Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, CEO (Women Radio)
- Akintunde Babatunde, Executive Director (CJID)
5:30 PM – 5:45 PM
Closing Remarks
Sebenzile Nkambule, Regional Director for Africa and MENA, MDIF
Thursday
Day 2
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Lightning Talks: Short 5-minute presentations from selected participants, partners, and stakeholders.
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Documentary: The Daily Trust Story
Moderator: Eugenia Abu
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Keynote Address: Media Sustainability Research Report
Speaker: Prof. Umaru Pate, Vice Chancellor of Federal University Kashere
What does the data say about what makes African media survive and thrive?
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Panel Discussion: Media Sustainability Research – Unpacking the Findings
Moderator: Dara Ajala, NAMIP Program Manager
Panelists
- Mannir Dan-Ali, Board Member (Daily Trust Foundation)
- Naziru Mikail Abubaka, Former Editor-in-Chief (Daily Trust)
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Tea Break
12:00 – 12:30 AM
Keynote Address
Speaker: Malam Bilya Bala, Chairman, Daily Trust Foundation
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
Panel Discussion: Tools and Strategies for Future-Proofing Media Businesses
Moderator: Angela Agoawike, CEO, Omalicha Radio
Numbers tell part of the story, this panel fills in the rest. Join leading editors and researchers to explore what the report reveals about newsroom models, revenue flows, and the real-world pressures shaping media today. What are the implications for funders, founders, and the future?
Panelists
- Musikilu Mojeed, Editor-In-Chief (Premium Times)
- Mahmud Jega, Publisher (21st Century Chronicle)
- Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, CEO (Women Radio)
- Chibuike Alagboso, Director of Media Programmes (Nigeria Health Watch)
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Panel Discussion: Redesigning Journalism Media Operations to Survive and Thrive Amidst Unpredictable Change
Moderator: Vivian Ojomu, NAMIP Program Assistant
How do you prepare for what you can’t predict? This session spotlights practical tools and mindset shifts media organisations need to stay relevant and resilient. Leaders share what they’ve built, tested, and learned along the way.
Panelists
- Emmanuel Paul, Managing Editor at BusinessFront (Publishers of Techpoint Africa)
- Nolwazi Tusini, Program Director, Amplify South Africa
- Asha Mwuli, Founder, Debunk Media, Amplify Kenya
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Lunch Break
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Workshop on Media Revenue Generation for Newsrooms
Fu'ad Lawal - Editor-in-Chief, Archivi.ng
How do you build defensible revenue model in a volatile media market? In this session, we’ll draw from a decade of operating experience (Pulse, Zikoko, TechCabal, Eden Life and Archivi.ng) to break down a practical playbook for Nigerian media companies. We’ll cover: diagnosing your current revenue engine, clarifying your core audience and value proposition, and the levers of growth. Then we’ll map diversified streams—membership, events, branded content, data/insights products, and services—and show how to prioritise them using simple ROI and resourcing frameworks. Participants will leave with a lightweight revenue roadmap, clear metrics to track, and next‑step experiments they can launch immediately.
3:30 PM – 4:15 PM
Workshop on Product Strategy
Temitayo Akinyemi - NAMIP Media Advisor
What makes a product succeed in today’s media? This session walks you through the product development cycle, from identifying audience needs to validating ideas and iterating with feedback. A field guide to building things that work.
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM
Workshop on Audience Development
Dara Ajala - NAMIP Program Manager
Audiences aren’t just “there”, they’re built. Learn how to grow, segment, and engage audiences with intention. Dara breaks down what it takes to turn passive readers into loyal supporters using data, storytelling, and smart distribution.
5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Closing Remarks
Dr. Theophilus Abbah
Key Partners
About NAMIP
The Nigeria Media Innovation Program (NAMIP) is a multi-year initiative implemented by the Media Development Investment Fund and funded by the MacArthur Foundation. NAMIP supports independent media organizations in Nigeria to develop new revenue streams, improve operational sustainability, and innovate for audience impact.
About MDIF
The Media Development Investment Fund is a mission-driven investment organization that provides affordable financing and strategic support to independent media in environments where press freedom is under threat.
About Daily Trust Foundation
The Daily Trust Foundation is the nonprofit arm of Media Trust Limited, dedicated to education, capacity development, and the advancement of ethical journalism and media excellence. It served as the local implementation partner for NAMIP throughout the program’s first phase.