No fewer than 150 journalists across the country are set to benefit from a new career development initiative, Media Career Fix, launched by the Media Career Development Network.

The programme, supported by NLNG, was unveiled in Lagos as part of efforts to address gaps in career growth and professional development within the media industry.

Speaking at the launch, the Executive Director of MCDN, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, said the initiative was designed to provide journalists with structured support tailored to their individual career needs.

He explained that participants would undergo career assessments to identify gaps affecting their growth, after which they would receive personalised recommendations, attend targeted training sessions, and benefit from mentoring, coaching, and other capacity-building interventions.

Otufodunrin disclosed that findings from a pre-launch survey revealed critical challenges facing journalists in Nigeria, including lack of mentorship, poor career direction, limited access to information and data resources, as well as inadequate tools, training, and digital skills.

He added that respondents also identified safety concerns, ethical dilemmas, institutional constraints, poor remuneration, and financial instability as major factors hindering their professional advancement.

To tackle these issues, he said the programme would provide beneficiaries with career clarity, structured mentorship, improved access to opportunities, and training in digital readiness, economic empowerment, and sustainability strategies.

Originally designed to accommodate 30 participants, Otufodunrin noted that MCDN expanded the scope to include all respondents due to the scale of challenges highlighted.

“It is important for journalists to be intentional about achieving their career goals instead of leaving things to chance,” he said, describing the initiative as a wake-up call for media professionals to take charge of their development.

In her keynote address, titled, “Fixing You First: The Hard Truth About Building a Journalism Career in Nigeria,” Editor of Gist Nigeria and BBC career mentor, Omotola Adebanjo, urged journalists to take personal responsibility for their growth.

She argued that individual development must precede institutional support, noting that no newsroom or mentor can substitute for self-driven improvement.

“You don’t grow because of the newsroom; you grow because you decide to—then the newsroom will catch up with you,” she said.

Adebanjo emphasised the need for journalists to focus on skills ownership, visibility, adaptability, and financial discipline, while also calling on media organisations to invest in training, mentorship, and innovation.

She urged newsrooms to treat journalists as valuable professionals rather than replaceable labour, stressing the importance of protecting editorial independence and rewarding creativity.
The event attracted participants both physically and virtually from across the country, with stakeholders in the media and development sectors in attendance.

Among the dignitaries were a member of MCDN’s Board of Trustees, Shekinat Lawal; Founder of The Journalism Clinic, Joke Kujenya; Executive Director of Illuminate Nigeria Development Network, Anikeade Funke Treasure; and Founder of Debisibusybee Media, Adebisi Adetunji.