Journalists Must Hold Leaders Accountable, Track Manifestos, Compare Capital Projects — Dakum

 Journalists Must Hold Leaders Accountable, Track Manifestos, Compare Capital Projects — Dakum

IHVN CEO urges Plateau publishers to embrace investigative journalism; PPA hails Dakum as “God-sent”

By Justin Jattim.

ABUJA — The Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), Prof. Patrick Sunday Dakum, has charged journalists and publishers to move beyond routine reporting and become active drivers of accountability, development and good governance by interrogating government policies, tracking campaign promises and comparing capital projects across states.

Dakum made the call on Monday, August 10, 2026, when the leadership of the Plateau Publishers Association (PPA), led by its Chairman, Elder Yakubu S. Ajala, paid him a courtesy and familiarisation visit at the IHVN headquarters in Abuja.

The IHVN chief executive described the media as a critical trigger for accountability and development, insisting that journalists have a responsibility to provide citizens with the information they need to assess the performance of their leaders.

“If we will move forward with development, then the trigger must come from publishers, it must come from journalists,” Dakum said.

He challenged publishers and reporters to embrace investigative journalism and develop a culture of evidence-based scrutiny of government programmes.

According to him, journalists should not merely report the announcement of projects or policies but should follow them through, establish whether they were implemented, assess their impact and compare the performance of governments with those of other states operating under similar economic circumstances.

He particularly urged journalists to track political manifestos, monitor the implementation of campaign promises and scrutinise capital projects, arguing that such a culture would strengthen democracy and help citizens make informed decisions.

Media Must Be a Mirror of Governance

Dakum noted that politics naturally accommodates divergent opinions, and that the existence of competing ideas gives citizens the opportunity to compare programmes and determine which policies best serve their interests.

He therefore encouraged the media to provide a credible platform for such comparisons rather than becoming instruments for political propaganda.

His remarks placed renewed emphasis on the role of the press as a watchdog of society, particularly at a time when citizens increasingly demand measurable results from public office holders.

On development in Plateau State, Dakum commended what he described as the mature synergy between Governor Caleb Mutfwang and APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, particularly regarding ongoing road projects and the “Water for Life” initiative.

He stressed that constructive cooperation among political actors, where it advances development and improves the lives of citizens, should be encouraged.

PPA Chairman: Dakum Is “God-Sent”

Earlier, PPA Chairman, Elder Yakubu S. Ajala, described Prof. Dakum as an exceptional leader whose career has been defined by service to humanity and measurable impact.

Ajala described the IHVN CEO as “God-sent,” an epitome of qualitative leadership, an asset to nations and a pride to Plateau State and Nigeria.

He said Dakum’s contributions have extended beyond public office and professional accomplishments to include interventions that have positively affected vulnerable people, including the less privileged, orphans, widows and retirees across different communities.

According to Ajala, Dakum’s record of service demonstrates that leadership is most meaningful when it produces tangible benefits for society.

The PPA chairman recalled Dakum’s years of community engagement and public enlightenment through the popular Home Front programme of the Plateau Radio Television Corporation (PRTVC), as well as his subsequent service as Commissioner for Information and Communication and Commissioner for Health in Plateau State.

Ajala said Dakum distinguished himself in those roles by demonstrating that public leadership should be measured not merely by position, but by the lives touched, institutions strengthened and communities transformed.

He added that Dakum’s current leadership of IHVN had further expanded the scope of his contribution to public health and human development.

From Plateau to the World: IHVN’s Expanding Footprint

Providing an insight into the work of IHVN, Dakum disclosed that the organisation was established in 2004 and relocated to its present Abuja campus approximately four years ago.

He explained that the institute has grown into a major public health organisation with programmes spanning HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and non-communicable diseases across virtually all 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory.

Dakum said IHVN operates through two principal arms: a Public Health Implementation Centre, which provides technical support to government health facilities, and an International Research Centre of Excellence, which focuses on bridging the gap between scientific research, treatment and the people who need healthcare services.

He further disclosed that IHVN serves as a major sub-recipient of the Global Fund for tuberculosis prevention and treatment interventions in Plateau State and partners with APW on HIV interventions within the state.

The organisation, he said, has close to 600 full-time employees and maintains a regional office in Jos.

IHVN Opens Door for Stronger Partnership With Plateau Media

Dakum also expressed the institute’s willingness to deepen its relationship with the Plateau media community.

He identified several areas where IHVN and the PPA could collaborate, including public health awareness campaigns, media coverage of IHVN programmes and projects, professional capacity building for journalists and publishers, and improved communication between the organisation and the media.

He specifically offered support for training initiatives through a designated focal person within IHVN’s Communications Unit and encouraged the PPA to work with the institute in ensuring that projects and interventions across different states receive adequate media visibility.

Dakum further pledged to facilitate engagement between the PPA and IHVN’s regional office in Jos, assuring the publishers that the regional manager would be encouraged to coordinate with the association on activities within Plateau State.

Preserving Plateau’s Media History

In what could become one of the most significant outcomes of the meeting, Dakum challenged the Plateau Publishers Association to establish a structured media archive system capable of preserving decades of newspapers, magazines, reports, photographs and other publications produced by Plateau journalists and publishers.

He stressed the importance of preserving the history of the media industry, noting that future generations should be able to access records of the issues, personalities, struggles and development milestones documented by the Plateau press.

The proposal presents an opportunity for the PPA to create a permanent repository of Plateau’s media heritage — a resource that could serve journalists, researchers, historians, students and policymakers for generations to come.

Another Honour for Dakum

Ajala disclosed that the PPA would honour Prof. Dakum again in recognition of his contributions to humanity and his distinguished record of service.

He said the proposed recognition was not merely intended to celebrate an individual but also to encourage a culture in which excellence, sacrifice, integrity and service are acknowledged and held up as examples for younger generations.

For the PPA chairman, Dakum represents a model of leadership in which professional achievement is matched by compassion and commitment to society.

A New Responsibility for the Plateau Press

The Abuja engagement ultimately went beyond a courtesy visit.

It placed a fresh responsibility before the Plateau media: to become more deliberate in documenting governance, interrogating public spending, tracking promises, measuring development outcomes and giving citizens the information required to hold leaders accountable.

For Dakum, the media should not wait for history to judge today’s leaders.

Journalists must document it, question it and provide the evidence with which citizens can judge for themselves.

For the Plateau Publishers Association, the proposed media archive offers another important task — ensuring that while the press holds the present accountable, it also preserves the past for the future.

And for Plateau, the meeting opened a potentially important bridge between the state’s publishing community and one of Nigeria’s leading public health institutions.

JATHOTNEWS PAPER/MAGAZINE
Media & Development Communications
Documenting the Present. Preserving the Past. Shaping the Future.