Ebony Herald holds 16th Lecture and Awards By Ahiaba Douglas
Ebony Herald holds 16th Lecture and Awards
By Ahiaba Douglas
The Ebony Herald International Magazine on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, transformed the National Merit Award House, Maitama, Abuja, into a crucible of ideas, patriotism, and national soul-searching as it hosted its 16th Public Lecture and Awards Ceremony.
It was an evening where intellect met passion, and the air rippled with urgent calls for renewed philanthropy, humanitarian sacrifice, and a deeper love for country.
With the nation’s security and economy hanging at a critical crossroads, the annual programme, aptly themed “Insecurity and Economic Development”, assembled some of Nigeria’s brightest minds and most distinguished achievers.
What began as a formal gathering quickly evolved into a powerful interrogation of Nigeria’s collective conscience, sparking conversations that echoed far beyond the hall.
It attracted distinguished guests, participants, and awardees from across the country.
Many honorees commended the publisher and the Ebony Herald team for their consistency and commitment to national development through the annual lecture series and awards platform.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Ahmad Sajor, Executive Director/CEO of the FutureNow Initiative, called for collective and non-partisan action to address Nigeria’s security challenges. He observed that criminal groups responsible for killings, abductions, and kidnappings for ransom often appear more united in their objectives than the citizens who suffer from their activities.
Referencing the recent controversy surrounding allegations of Christian genocide, which sharply polarised Nigerians along religious and ethnic divides, Dr Sajor emphasised that insecurity affects every Nigerian, regardless of background.
He criticised government responses such as shutting down schools in some states following student abductions, describing such measures as counterproductive and ineffective.
Dr Sajor urged authorities to tackle the root causes of insecurity rather than adopting reactive strategies.
He identified illiteracy and poverty as major drivers of instability that require urgent intervention. He further noted that bad leadership, manifested through corruption and incompetence, continues to fuel Nigeria’s insecurity, adding that the extravagant lifestyles of certain actors within the security architecture raise troubling questions about the sources of their wealth.
Highlighting the strong link between security and development, he stated that no meaningful progress can occur in an environment consumed by violence and instability.
He therefore called for genuine collaboration between government and citizens to find sustainable solutions to the insecurity affecting the country.
In his remarks, Alhaji Lai Gidado, Publisher of the Ebony Herald International Magazine, explained that the annual lecture and awards ceremony is designed to stimulate national discourse on critical issues, identify challenges, and propose workable solutions, while also honouring individuals who have made outstanding contributions to humanity.
He urged Nigerians to embrace nationalism, patriotism, and humanitarian values, noting that collectivism and communalism remain essential pillars of national stability.
Continuing, Alhaji Gidado restated Ebony Herald’s commitment to reviving and sustaining traditional media values that promote creativity at a time when social media appears dominant.
He lamented that many Nigerians place greater trust in misinformation circulated online than in credible reports from newspapers, magazines, and television.
He appealed to government and other stakeholders to support both government-owned and private media organisations, noting the challenges publishers face in retaining their workforce.
Highlighting the financial strain of print production, he disclosed that publishers sometimes print 5,000 copies of their magazine, only for vendors to return 4,500 copies unsold.
“We must encourage a reading culture,” he stressed.
