IPI Appoints Idris, Garba Shehu, Egbemode, Ohwahwa, 25 Others To Committees

The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria has appointed prominent media personalities to its standing committees to promote press freedom and responsible journalism in Nigeria.

In a statement issued to journalists yesterday in Abuja by IPI Nigeria President Musikilu Mojeed, the institute revealed that the appointees will serve on four key committees: Fundraising, Programming, Advocacy, and Membership. Each committee will comprise seasoned industry professionals.

Notable appointees include the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris; Senior Special Assistant to former President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu; former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mrs Funke Egbemode; former Managing Director of Champion Newspapers, Mr. Emma Agu; and former Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Mr. Gbemiga Ogunleye.

Fundraising Committee “Chair: Ms Funke Egbemode, former President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Secretary: Alhaji Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operations, The Nation.

Members: “Alhaji Mohammed Idris, minister of Information and National Orientation; Juliet Bumah, Editor, New Telegraph; Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity; Ken Ugbechie, publisher, Political Economist; Victoria Ibanga, publisher, The Next Edition, Olufunke Fadugba, chairman, Editorial Board, PenPushing Media, Gbemiga Ogunleye, former Provost, Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ).

Programming Committee Chair: “Mr. Oladotun Oladipo, Managing Editor/CEO, Premium Eagle Limited (The Eagle Online), Secretary: Hajia Sani, Director, Digital Media, Voice of Nigeria (VON).

Members: “Hajiya Zainab Suleiman Okino, chairman, Editorial Board, Blueprint, Dayo Aiyetan, executive director, The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR); Catherine Agbo, Deputy Editor, 21st Century Chronicle; Emma Agu, former MD/CEO, Champion Newspapers, Ahmed I. Shekarau, CEO, Media Trust Group.

Advocacy Committee Chair: “Tobi Soniyi, Media Adviser to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Secretary: Ochiaka Ugwu, Features Editor, People‘s Daily.

Members: “Sule Ya’u Sule, Associate Professor, Bayero University Kano, Danlami Nmodu, publisher, Newsdiaryonline, Laide Abbas, Assistant Director, News, Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), David Ajikobi, Nigerian Editor, Africa Check, Fred Ohwahwa, former Editor, The Guardian, and Senior Partner, Tokee Consult Limited.

Membership Committee Chair: ” Ruqayyah Yusuf Aliyu, Associate Professor, Bayero University Kano, Secretary: Linda Dooyum Kpum, Administrative Secretary, IPI Nigeria.

Members: “Fidelis Mbah, Al Jazeera Media Network and Deputy President, IPI Nigeria, Naziru Mikailu Abubakar, PhD Fellow, University of Westminster, UK, Bolanle Ismail, Lecturer, Crescent University, Abeokuta.”

He emphasised that the committees have been assigned the following responsibilities: “The Fundraising Committee will plan, coordinate, and execute fundraising activities to support IPI Nigeria’s programmes.

“The Programming Committee will design initiatives and develop impactful programs aligned with IPI Nigeria’s mission.

“The Advocacy Committee will lead strategic campaigns to promote press freedom and engage policymakers on critical media issues.

“The Membership Committee will work to attract new members, evaluate membership applications, and enhance engagement within the IPI community.”

Mojeed emphasised that the reconstitution of these committees marks a renewed commitment to strengthening press freedom and fostering responsible journalism practices across the country.