Popular broadcaster and media personality, Afouda Samuel, has sparked an industry-wide conversation with his open letter titled “Dear Senior Colleagues: Let the Young Breathe, Don’t Suffocate the Young.”
The piece reflects on generational tensions within Nigeria’s media landscape, and a passionate plea for a more compassionate approach to mentoring emerging talent.
Afouda recalls receiving a phone call from Baale Ogunyemi some times ago where the traditional chief and respected broadcaster gently corrected him for what was perceived as a trivialization of Yoruba wedding customs. The moment, Afouda says, was humbling but enlightening. “Only a fool and proud soul resists correction when it is done in love,” he wrote.
He went further to make the incident a springboard for further commentary on the strained relationship between generations in Nigeria’s media industry. Afouda challenged senior professionals who, rather than offering encouragement or praise, are often quick to criticize the mistakes of younger practitioners—sometimes harshly and without empathy.
“You have never called someone to tell him you are proud of him… but you are always quick to harshly condemn,” he wrote. “Investing in the next generation is a richly rewarding enterprise; therefore, it requires diligence and intentionality.”
He cautioned against weaponizing correction, noting that some elders prioritize protecting the image of the profession over the growth and well-being of its people.
Afouda also warned of a disturbing trend: young professionals beginning to emulate the harshness they once condemned.
“We younger generations are fast becoming the more sophisticated version of what we condemned,” he lamented.
He urged both older and emerging media practitioners to choose love, encouragement, and intentional mentorship, emphasizing that the industry’s future lies in mutual respect and collaboration.
He concluded the writeup by saying: “The quality of the people determines the quality of the industry, and without the people, the industry we are all trying so hard to protect will be non-existent.”
