The Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN) on Thursday engaged Nigerian media practitioners in townhall meeting on human rights, the Police Act 2020 and regulations.
Penpushing reports that the meeting held in Lagos had participants from South-West of the country which serves as an opportunity for the participating journalists to unpack the critical provisions of the Police Act 2020 and its innovations.
The meeting in same vein, explored the role of the media in fostering responsible and rights-based reporting on sensitive issues like arrests, stop-and-search, and profiling, and equally discussed actionable strategies to bridge gaps in understanding and implementation of the Act across Nigeria.
Penpushing further reports that at the end of the panelist discussions on various related issues on the media and police relationship in regards the 2020 police act, the participants were engaged in the session for participatory contributions
The Executive Director, Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN) Ms ‘Kemi Okenyodo, represented by Ogechukwu Holly Mohanye earlier in her welcome address explained that the meeting was an essential step to strengthening trust, transparency, and accountability between law enforcement and the community.
Penpushing also reports that she added that the meeting seeks to educate the public and specifically the media organizations about the Police Act 2020, its impact on police-citizen interactions, and media reporting.
The Executive Director added that this was an important initiative to ensure that both the public and the media understand their rights and responsibilities under the new law and the expected conduct of police officers.
‘PWAN is a non-governmental organization dedicated to enhancing citizens’ participation and improving security governance in Nigeria and West Africa broadly, which we achieve through our Rule of Law, Citizens Security, and CSO strengthening Program Areas’, she said.
‘PWAN with support from the UK Integrated Security Fund of the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) is implementing the project titled “Enhancing Police Governance: Deepening Understanding of the Police Act 2020 and Regulations Across Nigeria specifically in Kano, Plateau, Borno, Edo, Lagos, Enugu states, and the FCT’.
‘The project seeks to address critical gaps in the understanding and application of the Police Act 2020 and accompanying regulations within the Nigerian Police Force (NPF). As part of the project’s objective, PWAN is organising this Media Townhall Meeting on Human Rights, The Police Act 2020 And Regulations’, she stated.
Penpushing reports that presentation of the Police Act 2020/Regulation was handled by Tosin Osasona, while Precious Osinaku gave lecture on Promoting Awareness of the Nigeria Police Act: The Role of the Media.
Meanwhile, the panelists at the well-attended media town hall meeting include Dr Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji (Founder, Penpushing Media) Funke Busari, while Terkosu Glory Chor, expressed appreciation to participants on behalf of the organization
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