Editors Conference in Enugu Focuses on Democracy and Media

The 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC 2026) took place in Enugu from September 23 to 27, 2026, organized by the Nigerian Guild of Editors at The Dome, International Conference Centre. The conference attracted over 300 editors, media owners, academics, and civic leaders, emphasizing the media's critical role in protecting democracy.

The theme was ‘The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,’ with a sub-theme focused on detecting and debunking AI disinformation. Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, the chairman and Obi of Onitsha, urged editors to hold public officials accountable, linking modern journalism to traditional African practices of governance.

John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the keynote speaker, discussed the failures of democracy in meeting the needs of Nigerians and the press's irreplaceable role in promoting accountability. He rejected the notion that Nigerians should wait generations for democracy to mature.

Hon Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, encouraged media practitioners to publish verifiable truths as the nation approaches the 2027 elections.