The Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, will chair the 2024 conference of the International Press Institute (IPI), Nigeria Chapter, scheduled to hold on Wednesday in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Penpushing reports that the Secretary of the Institute Ahmed Shekarau made this known in a statement on Monday, adding that the list of distinguished guests who have confirmed their attendance of the conference include the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu and former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba.
The statement disclosed that others are Publisher, Vanguard Newspaper, Sam Amuka Pemu; President, Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Kabiru Yusuf, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga; and Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu
Penpushing further reports that other guests expected at the conference are Africa Director, MacArthur Foundation, Kole Shettima; Country Director, CARE, Hussaini Abdu; Founder, ThisDay/Arise, Nduka Obaigbena; former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; Dean, Postgraduate School, Baze University, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi and Chairman of the Editorial Board of ThisDay Newspaper, Olusegun Adeniyi.
The statement reiterated that the conference will hold on Wednesday, December 11,2024 at the Abuja Continental Hotel (formerly Sheraton Hotel), and in addition the Institute is scheduled to hold its annual general meeting, to elect new leadership and host its members and supporters to a dinner on December 12, 2024 at the same venue.
Penpushing also reports that Shekarau earlier in the statement revealed that renowned media practitioner, Professor Tonnie Iredia would deliver a keynote on “Democracy, Media Freedom and the Imperative of Protecting Nigeria’s Civic Space”, at the event.
The statement stated that a panel of seasoned journalists has equally been lined up to discuss the paper and that Busola Ajibola, a press freedom advocate and Deputy Director at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, will moderate the discussion.
Penpushing reports that the panel discussion will feature Waziri Adio (Founder and Executive Director at Agora Policy), Garba Shehu (Director at Peoples Daily newspaper and former Presidential spokesperson, and Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika (a Professor of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos).
The statement said Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, the Director-General of the State Security Service, will also make a presentation titled “Dissecting the Frosty Relationship Between the Nigerian Media and Security Agencies”.
Penpushing further reports that the Police Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi; Funke Egbemode, a former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors; Hussaini Abdu, country director of CARE; and Lanre Arogundade, Director of the International Press Centre, will discuss his presentation.
The scribe said the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, will make a short remark on “How the Media and Journalists can Partner Anti-corruption Agencies in the Fight Against Corruption”.
Penpushing also reports that in the same vein, a former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, will speak on “Government Vs Media: How to Reduce Tension, Enhance Mutual Understanding, and Avoid Censorship”.
“Owners of leading media organisations in Nigeria, media practitioners, federal lawmakers, heads of security agencies, academics, press freedom and journalists’ safety advocates, and other experts have been invited to participate as we deliberate on the challenges threatening the practice of journalism in the country”, Shekarau said.
Penpushing reports that the statement stated that the conference will provide journalists with an opportunity to find answers to some of the knotty issues they desperately want answers to, and that it will be followed by an annual general meeting , at which the Musikilu Mojeed-led executive will render accounts to members and elect a new executive to run the organisation’s affairs.
‘The International Press Institute (IPI), with headquarters in Vienna, Austria, is a global network of media executives, editors, and leading journalists. Since its establishment in 1950, it has consistently advocated for journalists’ rights and media freedom worldwide’, Shekarau said.
‘IPI Nigeria is the Nigerian branch of IPI Global and is totally committed to credible and independent journalism, media freedom, freedom of speech and the free flow of news and information in Africa’s most populous country and the continent’s biggest economy’, he added.
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