By Stephen Simon
The Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ) has urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to immortalise veteran journalist Dele Giwa and renew efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding his assassination 40 years ago. The guild made the call in a statement issued by its President, Abdulrahman Aliagan, and Secretary, Rowland Olonishuwa, to mark the anniversary of Giwa’s death.
It proposed that the Federal Government name a public institution, national journalism centre, media research facility or another suitable national monument after the late journalist, a co-founder and pioneer editor-in-chief of Newswatch magazine.
The guild also announced plans to establish the Dele Giwa Annual Public Lecture on Investigative Journalism to promote press freedom, democratic accountability, professional independence and journalists’ safety.
It urged law enforcement agencies and relevant authorities to review available evidence and pursue credible investigative leads, insisting that the passage of time should not extinguish the quest for justice.
Giwa was killed by a parcel bomb delivered to his Lagos residence on October 19, 1986. Four decades later, no one has been held accountable for his murder.
The anniversary has also renewed calls for justice from the Nigerian Guild of Editors, which separately urged authorities to reopen the investigation while cautioning against condemning anyone without evidence.
Meanwhile, journalists and media leaders gathered in Lagos on October 19 for the unveiling of Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism, a book edited by veteran journalist Ray Ekpu to preserve Giwa’s work and legacy.
The renewed calls have placed press freedom, accountability and the safety of investigative journalists back in the national conversation.
