International Press Institute elects leadership for Nigeria Chapter

The International Press Institute (IPI), Nigeria Chapter has re-elected the Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times, Musikilu Mojeed as President alongside other executives to run affairs of the global body for next three years term.

Penpushing reports that the election of new leaders was preceded by the organisation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory(FCT), which also produced the Chief Executive Officer of the Media Trust Group, Ahmed  Shekarau, as Secretary.

The statement by member of the global executive board of the International Press Institute (IPI), Raheem Adedoyin, disclosed that other members elected into the executive committee and sworn in on Thursday include Fidelis Mbah of Al Jazeera Television (Deputy President), Rafatu Salami of Voice of Nigeria (Treasurer), Yomi Adeboye of Herald Newspaper (Assistant Secretary) and Tobi Soniyi of Arise News (Legal Adviser).

Penpushing further reports that the immediate past executives had earlier rendered account of their three-year stewardship and updated members on the financial state of the body, while some sections of the organisation’s constitution were also amended during the  meeting.

The major highpoint of the event was the arrival of former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba, a renowned journalist and prominent, longtime member of the International Press Institute(IPI), who praised  members for their commitment to press freedom, journalists’ rights and independent journalism.

Penpushing also reports that Osoba, who recently returned from an overseas trip, further commended the organisation’s leadership for ensuring a successful conference.

The other prominent journalists who attended the meeting included a former Editor-In-Chief of Tribune Newspapers (who chaired the forum), Folu Olamiti; former Presidential Spokesperson and former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors(NGE), Garba Shehu; chairman of the Editorial Board of the Herald and member of the global board of the  institute Mr. Adedoyin; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Oluwafisan Bankale and the Executive Director of the organisation, Dayo Aiyetan.

Penpushing reports that other dignitaries at the congress were Professor Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika of the University of Lagos; Kunle Babs, the Nigerian Bureau Chief of Feature Story News; Danlami Nmodu, publisher of Newsdiary Online;  Fabian Benjamin, Editor-in-Chief of Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB Bulletin); Sule Yau Sule of Bayero University, Kano and Dotun Oladipo, Publisher of The Eagle Online.

The list also include Funke Egbemode, former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors(NGE), Ochiaka Ugwu, an Editor with Peoples Daily;  Ken Ugbechie, Publisher of  Political Economist; Lawal Sabo Ibrahim, former Managing Director of The Triumph Newspapers; Mohammed Danjuma, Publisher of Katsina Times; Christopher Isiguzo, former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ); Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre; Zainab Suleiman Okino, Chair Editorial Board of Blueprint Newspapers; and Hameed Bello, Chief Operating Officer of  Peoples Daily newspapers.

Penpushing further reports that earlier on Wednesday, the institute hosted a well attended conference with the theme: “Democracy, Media Freedom and the Imperative of Protecting the Nigerian Civic Space.”

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who chaired the conference’s opening day session said press freedom exists in Nigeria, while the keynote address was delivered by Professor Tony Iredia, who disagreed with the minister, arguing fiercely that press freedom does not exist in Nigeria.

Penpushing also reports that Director-General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, gave a presentation on “Dissecting the Frosty Relationship Between the Nigerian Media and Security Agencies” while the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, spoke on “How the Media and Journalists can Partner Anti-corruption Agencies in the Fight Against Corruption.”

The former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed,in the same vein addressed participants on the topic  “Government Vs Media: How to Reduce Tension, Enhance Mutual Understanding, and Avoid Censorship”, while the three-part event concluded on the night of  December 12, 2024 with a dinner for the organisation’s members, partners, and supporters.

Penpushing reports that the President of the International Press Institute (IPI) speaking at the  inauguration promised inclusive administration, solicited the support and commitment of members to enable thevteam achieve the organisation’s set objectives of enhancing the Nigerian media operating environment.

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.

Penpushing further reports that the Nigeria Chapter 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.

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