Nigeria has accepted to host the maiden meeting of the African bloc of the National Committees of the International Press Institute (IPI).
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, indicated during a meeting at the weekend in Vienna, Austria, with the Chairman of the IPI Executive Board, Mr Marton Gergely, the IPI Executive Director, Mr Scott Griffen, and an IPI Executive Board Member representing Nigeria and Africa, Mr Raheem Adedoyin.
On Thursday, the IPI Board approved the creation of regional blocs of National Committees to address specific regional interests within the global IPI community.
During the meeting, the Minister said, “Nigeria agrees to host the maiden meeting of the African bloc. It is a great honour to lead as we always do.”
Idris recalled that Nigeria successfully hosted the IPI World Congress and General Assembly in Abuja in 2018, adding that the country “is ready for another world-class hosting.”
Although no date has been fixed for the meeting, Mr Griffen disclosed that the IPI Secretariat in Vienna will work out the details with Mr Adedoyin and the IPI Nigeria National Committee.
The IPI Executive Board Chairman, Mr Gergely, acknowledged that Nigeria is a leading light in democratic governance with a free press.
Similarly, the IPI Executive Director, Mr Griffen, praised the Nigerian National Committee for its robust press freedom engagements.
During his discussions with the IPI leadership, the Minister also raised the lingering quest of the IPI Nigeria National Committee for IPI’s assistance to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Ogba, Lagos.
He recalled that the IPI founded NIJ in 1971 during Alhaji Lateef Jakande’s board presidency. He noted that IPI leader and former Ogun State Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba currently chairs the Governing Board.
The Minister, a leading member of the IPI, was a registered participant at the just-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; Associate Professor of Mass Communication and Adviser, Public Communication, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dr. Fabian Benjamin; 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.
