Nigeria will host the inaugural meeting of the African bloc of the National Committees of the International Press Institute, following the country’s acceptance to lead the new regional grouping.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, confirmed the development during a meeting at the weekend in Vienna, Austria, with the Chairman of the IPI Executive Board, Marton Gergely; the IPI Executive Director, Scott Griffen, and Nigeria’s representative on the IPI Executive Board, Raheem Adedoyin.
This was contained in a statement signed by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, on Sunday.
The IPI Board had earlier approved the creation of regional blocs of national committees to better address region-specific interests within the global IPI community.
Idris, who spoke at the meeting, said Nigeria was honoured to host the maiden edition of the African bloc’s meeting.
“Nigeria agrees to host the maiden meeting of the African bloc. It is a great honour for us to lead as we always do,” he stated.
He recalled that Nigeria successfully hosted the IPI World Congress and General Assembly in Abuja in 2018, adding that the country was ready for another world-class event.
Although a date has not yet been set for the meeting, Griffen said the IPI Secretariat in Vienna would work with Adedoyin and the IPI Nigeria National Committee to finalise the details.
According to the statement, Gergely commended Nigeria’s leadership role on the continent, describing the country as a leading light in democratic governance with a vibrant and free press. Griffen also praised the IPI Nigeria National Committee for its strong and sustained engagement in promoting press freedom.
During the discussions, Idris also raised the longstanding request by the IPI Nigeria National Committee for IPI’s assistance to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism in Ogba, Lagos.
He noted that the NIJ was founded by IPI in 1971 during the presidency of the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, and that its governing board is currently chaired by former Ogun State Governor and IPI leader, Aremo Olusegun Osoba.
Idris, a senior member of the IPI, was a registered participant at the recently concluded IPI World Congress and 75th Anniversary held in Vienna.
The Nigerian delegation at the Congress included Board Member, Raheem Adedoyin; IPI Nigeria President, Musikilu Mojeed; former Presidential Spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu; and Associate Professor of Mass Communication and Adviser, Public Communication, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Others are Chief Press Secretary to Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State; Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye; CEO, Patrons Media/The Culture Newspaper, Mr Steve Ayorinde; Professor of Mass Communication and Member of the IPI Nigeria Board of Trustees, University of Lagos, Professor Abigail Ogwuensi; and IPI Nigeria Legal Adviser, Mr. Tobi Soniyi.