Tinubu commends launch of Lekeelekee, calls for support of African tech initiatives

President Bola Tinubu has lauded Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Thirds Media Group and Arise News Channel, for launching Lekeelekee, a new social media platform aimed at redefining digital communication and challenging Western dominance in global technology.

Speaking on Friday during an interfaith breaking of fast hosted at the State House, Abuja, for leaders of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), Tinubu urged Nigerians to support homegrown initiatives that strengthen the country’s digital and media ecosystem.

Describing Lekeelekee as a positive step toward technological and media independence, the President said:
“Don’t mind the screaming sometimes.

” I’m glad the Duke is sponsoring Lekeelekee while we are talking about Google and external interference in our affairs.

“We will run with the stick with you and say ‘Nigeria we hail thee.’ We will survive the challenges.”

Tinubu also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting initiatives that protect Nigeria’s media industry from foreign technological influence.

He disclosed that the government was engaging global tech companies such as Meta and Google to address concerns about their impact on the Nigerian media landscape.

Beyond digital media, the President called on state and local governments to ensure that increased federal allocations translate into tangible development at the grassroots level.

He highlighted recent fiscal reforms, including the implementation of direct funding for local governments, as creating greater financial capacity for sub-national governments.

“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money. But how they use it is in your hands.

“Don’t bombard me alone; look out to the local government too,” he said, urging the media to expand oversight to governors and local councils.

Tinubu also pointed out that improved fiscal space had strengthened the financial position of states, noting that no state was currently borrowing to pay salaries.

He acknowledged the difficult economic decisions made early in his administration, such as the removal of the fuel subsidy, describing them as necessary to prevent national economic collapse.

“At the time, we had to confront the subsidy; Nigeria was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. Today I can stand proudly before you that we are back from that brink,” he said.

The President further promised to address concerns raised by media organisations regarding import tariffs on newsprint and broadcasting equipment, assuring industry leaders that the government would examine the matter.

Earlier, Olusegun Osoba, Grand Patron of NPAN and former governor of Ogun State, commended Tinubu for bold reforms aimed at transforming Nigeria’s economy.

Frank Aigbogun, Publisher of BusinessDay Newspapers, praised the President for maintaining cordial relations with the media and called for government intervention on tariffs affecting media operations.

He also urged the administration to protect journalists and media organisations from the growing dominance of global tech platforms that repurpose editorial content without compensation.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, reiterated the government’s commitment to press freedom, confirming that regulatory agencies had begun engaging major technology companies over their influence on Nigeria’s media industry.

“All the regulatory agencies are already engaging the big tech, Meta and Google. The President will not allow anybody to come here, reap from our economy and go away,” Idris said.

He also emphasised that Tinubu himself respects press freedom, noting: “At no time has the President ever called me to say go and do this or go and do that to the press. He is himself a product of press freedom.”