Media power couple Kikelomo Atanda-Owo Abati and her husband, journalist Reuben Abati, have unveiled the Reuben and Kike Abati Podcast to discuss governance, relationships, family, the media industry and legacy.

The podcast was unveiled on Saturday at the seventh anniversary celebration of Real Talk With Kike at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The celebration also marked Kikelomo’s more than 20 years in the media industry.

The event, themed ‘Beyond the Studio’, brought together media professionals, government officials and representatives of the creative industry to discuss leadership, innovation, culture and the media’s role in Nigeria’s development.

Speaking at the event, Kikelomo said the anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on the programme’s journey and consider what lay ahead for Nigerians.

“For the past seven years, Real Talk With Kike has been bringing stakeholders, industry captains, powerhouses and influencers onto the platform to have critical conversations about the issues shaping Nigeria,” she said.

She explained that leadership, innovation, culture and the media were central to the anniversary theme because of their influence on national development.

According to her, technology, particularly artificial intelligence, is increasingly shaping how people work, communicate and conduct business, while Nigeria’s cultural diversity and heritage remain important assets that could attract global interest.

She added that the media had a responsibility to ensure that conversations about national development reached ordinary citizens and other stakeholders, rather than remaining within government and corporate circles.

In her keynote address, the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, who represented the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, called for stronger collaboration between government, businesses, the media and the public.

She said meaningful national development required more than public statements, stressing the need for measurable targets, accountability and sustained efforts to address challenges.

“Progress is not the absence of problems, it is the determination to solve them,” she said.

Salu-Hundeyin identified high operating costs, traffic congestion, electricity expenses and bureaucratic delays as some of the challenges facing businesses in Lagos.

She said the state government would continue working towards transparent investment rules, faster business approval processes and greater engagement with investors.

She also urged businesses to invest in local capacity, train Nigerians and strengthen domestic supply chains, while encouraging journalists to ask difficult questions and help the public understand policies and their outcomes.

The anniversary featured two panel discussions on leadership and accountability, and the influence of culture on national identity.

The first session, moderated by Kikelomo and themed ‘Leadership: Fixing the System — Policy, Accountability and the Next 10 Years’, featured the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa; Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Reuben Abati; and Air Peace chairman, Allen Onyema.

Musawa stressed the importance of measuring the impact of government policies, while Dabiri-Erewa said communication was essential for public officials. She urged government to focus on fixing systemic problems rather than merely managing failures.

Abati called for responsible journalism, questioning how effectively professional codes were enforced in an era when social media had expanded the number of people producing and distributing news. Onyema, meanwhile, discussed challenges in the aviation industry and called for greater cooperation to build a stronger Nigeria.

The second session, themed ‘From Traditions to Trends: How Culture Shapes Our Values and Nationhood’, was moderated by media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo. It featured multimedia strategist Eugenia Abu, Eko Hotels and Suites general manager Danny Kioupouroglou, actress Shaffy Bello, food blogger Yemisi Odusanya, popularly known as Sisi Yemmie, The Sun Nigeria chairman Yinka Adebayo, director of public affairs of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Henry Agbebire, and Reverend Esther Ajayi.

The panellists discussed cultural identity, authenticity, mentorship and the need for Nigerians to recognise the value of their heritage. Bello encouraged young people to remain true to themselves, saying, “America trained me, but Nigeria made me.”

Kikelomo also honoured seven men she said had played significant roles at different points in her personal life and career. They included the late former Oyo State governor Abiola Ajimobi, Onyema, media entrepreneur Dele Momodu, Emma Heru-Oriakhi, Danny Kioupouroglou, Otunba Sesan Rufai and Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye.

She said the men were being recognised for their individual contributions to her journey, rather than because men mattered more than women. She added that her experiences had made her more intentional about supporting women, creating opportunities for them and ensuring they had seats at the table.

The event also featured a musical performance by BJ Sax, an Eyo masquerade display and a raffle draw, with guests winning various gifts. 

Dignitaries in attendance included Lagos State Commissioner for Information Gbenga Omotoso, Minister of Art Tourism and the Creative Economy Hannatu Musa Musawa, and the Director-General of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, alongside other figures from government, aviation, broadcasting, hospitality and the creative industry.