CJID to launch project preserving Africa's media history and celebrate Lade Bonuola

The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) is launching a new project called the Living Archives Initiative. This project will come with a digital platform to help keep Africa’s media history safe.

The launch is set for 22nd October in Lagos. It will also introduce “Ladbone: A Life in Print”, a collection of essays honoring veteran journalist Lade Bonuola.

The Living Archives Initiative aims to fill a gap in Africa’s journalistic memory. Many important newspaper records, personal papers, photographs, and recordings are often scattered or in bad condition. Some are hard to access.

CJID said the initiative will help document and preserve the lives and work of people who have shaped journalism in Africa. Their contributions have promoted public accountability and democratic development.

“Journalism cannot renew itself if it loses the memory of how earlier generations confronted power, defended standards and made difficult editorial choices,” said CJID’s CEO, Dapo Olorunyomi.

“The Living Archives Initiative is an attempt to preserve that evidence as a resource that can help us gain the necessary context and think more clearly about journalism’s public purpose and future.”

The first edition of this project focuses on Lade Bonuola, also called “Ladbone”. He is seen as one of the most important editors in Nigeria's press history.

Mr Bonuola started his journalism career at the Daily Times. There, he wrote the well-known “Caught-out by Ladbone” column. He later became the first editor and managing director of The Guardian and co-founded The Comet in 1999.

He then served as the chief consultant for Compass Newspapers before returning to The Guardian as chief consultant. His career spanned over 50 years and included some of the most important times in Nigeria’s history, like military rule and democratic changes.

CJID said Mr Bonuola’s career is important for looking at editorial independence, ethics, and professional standards in Nigerian journalism.

The book, Ladbone: A Life in Print, includes contributions from more than 80 editors, media managers, academics, political figures, and industry experts.

“This book of essays provides a critical view and honest assessment of those formative years. It offers readers a nuanced account of how Nigerian journalists faced military repression while staying true to integrity, accountability, leadership, and family,” Mr Olorunyomi said.

The digital platform being launched with the initiative will help journalists, newsrooms, fact-checkers, researchers, academics, students, policymakers, and the general public.

CJID said the platform will also provide historical evidence for discussions on press freedom, governance, and democracy. It will offer a model for similar archival efforts across Africa.

In Lagos, the launch will include a panel discussion, a formal book review, the unveiling of the anthology, and a reception for Bonuola’s 80th birthday.

Guests will get an exclusive look at the digital platform and join discussions on media memory, professional standards, and public trust.

CJID said this initiative builds on its work in accountability and information integrity. It extends its focus to preserving history and making credible records of Africa’s media history available to the public.