Majority of Nigerian Journalists Lack Formal Journalism Training – Study
A new study has revealed that 58% of journalists in selected Nigerian newsrooms did not study journalism or a media-related course.
The research, conducted by Nigerian journalist and academic, Kemi Busari, was unveiled at the 2025 Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Conference in San Francisco, where it won top paper prizes.
Busari’s work explored newsroom hiring practices and the experiences of journalists without formal journalism education. One paper, Beyond the Degree, found that editors prioritise qualities such as passion, writing ability, and adherence to ethics over academic qualifications when recruiting.
Another, The Paradox of Journalism Degree, showed that over half of Nigeria’s journalists – including 13% with pure science backgrounds – entered the profession unintentionally.
Describing his work as the first of its kind, Busari stressed that journalists are not a homogenous group and that their diverse pathways into the newsroom must be studied separately.
He added that the findings could inform education and policy, especially in light of past legislative attempts to bar non-degree holders from practising journalism.
“My study fills the knowledge gap and provides data that can guide meaningful policy,” Busari said.
The award-winning research is expected to spark fresh debates on professionalisation and journalism education in Nigeria.
