BY NGOZI ONYEAKUSI


The Editor of THISDAY Saturday, Obinna Chima, has charged financial journalists to go beyond reporting figures, official statements and policy announcements by providing deeper analysis that helps Nigerians understand developments in the financial system.

Chima gave the charge while speaking on “The Role of the Media in Building a Future-Ready Financial System,” where he stressed the importance of credible, accurate and responsible financial journalism in shaping public understanding and strengthening confidence in the financial sector.

According to him, the rapidly changing financial landscape requires journalists to evolve with the sector and develop the capacity to explain complex financial policies and developments in ways that ordinary Nigerians can understand.
He said financial journalists must increasingly position themselves as interpreters, investigators, educators and watchdogs, rather than merely serving as channels for transmitting information from institutions to the public.

Chima noted that as Nigeria’s financial system undergoes significant transformation driven by regulatory reforms, technology, digitalisation and changing consumer behaviour, the media has a critical responsibility to scrutinise these developments and highlight their implications for businesses and citizens.
He urged journalists to interrogate official claims, verify data and provide context when reporting financial and economic issues, stressing that credibility should take precedence over the pressure to break news.

The THISDAY editor also emphasised the need for journalists to improve their knowledge of financial and economic issues through continuous learning and engagement with experts and industry stakeholders.

He said a well-informed financial media would contribute significantly to the development of a more transparent, inclusive and resilient financial system.
Chima further encouraged media organisations to invest in specialised financial journalism and equip reporters with the tools and skills required to cover emerging areas such as fintech, artificial intelligence, digital finance, cybersecurity and other innovations reshaping the financial sector.

He maintained that the media’s role extends beyond reporting what financial institutions and regulators say, noting that journalists must ask the difficult questions, identify emerging risks and ensure that the interests of consumers remain part of the conversation.

According to him, the future-ready financial system Nigeria seeks to build requires a media that is equally prepared to understand, interrogate and explain the changes taking place.

He therefore called for stronger collaboration among financial institutions, regulators, industry experts and the media to promote accurate information, financial literacy and public confidence.

Chima’s remarks underscored the growing importance of specialised journalism in supporting Nigeria’s financial sector reforms and ensuring that citizens are not left behind as the financial system becomes increasingly technology-driven and complex.