Former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba and Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, have expressed concern over dearth of journalism books written by practicing journalists, saying that there is need for journalists to write and tell their stories.

Osoba, who was represented by the General Manager/Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard Newspapers, Gbenga Adefaye, spoke yesterday at the public presentation of a memoir: “A Reporter and His Beat, written by Yinka Fabowale in Lagos.

He said not many books had been written by practicing journalists that are reflective of the nation’s context. Adefaye, who is also the Provost of Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos, said that lecturers still refer to foreign authors when teaching.

He said what Osoba had been emphasising is that journalists should go beyond reporting others and also tell their stories, adding that former Lagos State governor and pioneer President of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Alhaji Lateef Jakande, never wrote his memoir before he died. He described this as a collective loss.

Adefaye said that the author had put down his experience and provided a guide for the younger ones coming, especially in the area of training and capacity development.

Speaking in a similar vein, Akeredolu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, said there was need to write more books, not only in journalism but every facets of life, adding that every book written enriches the reader with knowledge and ethics.

She added that journalists must tell the stories as it is, inform and write more books for posterity.

In his speech, the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, described the book as excellent. He said journalists would gain a lot from the book and should be a recommended text in journalism schools.