Over 30 journalists in Lagos stepped away from deadlines and daily newsroom pressures to reflect, reconnect, and experience storytelling beyond the headline at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism’s (WSCIJ) Journalists’ Timeout on Wednesday 25 February 2026. Held in collaboration with Justice & Empowerment Initiatives–Nigeria (JEI), the hangout featured an exclusive screening of The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos, a film that has sparked conversations around inequality, displacement, resilience, and the politics of urban development.
In her welcome remarks, Motunrayo Alaka, Executive Director/CEO, WSCIJ noted that the Journalists Timeout initiative was launched in 2019 in recognition of the demanding nature of the profession. “Journalists work hard, often without pause. But journalism can only be stronger when journalists are well,” she said, emphasising WSCIJ’s commitment to ensuring the physical, mental, and emotional safety of journalists.
She also stressed the importance of safeguarding press freedom, particularly as journalists continue to face harassment and attacks during protests and electoral cycles. As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, she stressed that protecting the integrity and safety of the media remains critical. “Journalism is not a luxury in a democracy. It is its backbone,” she stated.
The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos centres on a waterfront community in Lagos confronted with demolition and displacement, with the main character, Jawu Okoro, who emerges as a symbol of resistance in the face of state power and rapid urbanization. The film interrogates the human cost of development, asking who benefits, who is displaced, and whose lives are considered expendable in the pursuit of progress. At its heart, the film explores themes of forced evictions, systemic inequality, dignity, and community solidarity. It captures the tension between policy and people, development and displacement, power and vulnerability. While urbanisation is often framed as progress.
Following the screening, a representative of JEI, Jude Ojo, highlighted the film’s roots in true events from 2016 and 2017 involving waterfront demolitions. “It is not about money; it is about the lives of people that have been destroyed,” he said, stressing the human cost of forced evictions. He also spoke on the role of journalists in reporting such issues responsibly, particularly amid ongoing conversations around demolitions in communities like Makoko.
For many journalists in attendance, the film’s themes hit close to home. Stories of forced evictions, urban redevelopment, and community displacement are all too familiar in newsrooms, often reported under tight deadlines and limited space. It also serves as a reminder of the responsibility journalists carry: while governments may act according to their own priorities, journalists must remain independent, report the facts accurately, and give voice to communities that might otherwise be ignored. By approaching these stories with care and impartiality, the media can illuminate the impact of policies, challenge unchecked power, and ensure that the lives and dignity of affected communities are fully represented.
Post-screening conversations reflected on the responsibility of journalists to move beyond episodic coverage and to interrogate power consistently. Participants discussed the need to amplify marginalised voices, sustain attention on underreported issues, and ensure that vulnerable communities are not erased from public discourse.
Through initiatives such as Journalists’ Timeout, WSCIJ continues to strengthen investigative journalism while fostering reflection, solidarity, and professional wellbeing within the media community. The evening served as a reminder that impactful journalism requires not only urgency, but also pause: moments to reflect, recalibrate, and recommit to telling stories that matter.
