Information Minister Idris to Chair IPI Nigeria Conference as Prominent Dignitaries Confirm Attendance
Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, will chair the highly anticipated 2024 conference of the Nigerian chapter of the International Press Institute (IPI). The event is set to take place on Wednesday, December 11, at the Abuja Continental Hotel, formerly known as the Sheraton Hotel, according to a statement released by Ahmed I. Shekarau, Secretary of IPI Nigeria.
The conference will draw an array of notable guests, including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu; former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba; Vanguard Newspaper Publisher Sam Amuka Pemu; NPAN President Kabiru A. Yusuf; Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga; and NOA Director General Lanre Issa-Onilu.
Other esteemed attendees include Kole Shettima, Africa Director of the MacArthur Foundation; Hussaini Abdu, Country Director for CARE; media mogul Nduka Obaigbena; and former Information Minister Lai Mohammed. Distinguished scholars such as Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi of Baze University and Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika of the University of Lagos will also be present.
The event will feature a keynote address by renowned media practitioner, Professor Tonnie Iredia, on “Democracy, Media Freedom, and the Imperative of Protecting Nigeria’s Civic Space.” A panel discussion moderated by press freedom advocate Busola Ajibola will explore the theme further, with contributions from journalists and media experts including Waziri Adio, Garba Shehu, and others.
A special presentation by State Security Service Director-General Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, titled “Dissecting the Frosty Relationship Between the Nigerian Media and Security Agencies,” will also be discussed by a panel featuring security and media experts. Additionally, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede will highlight how journalists can collaborate with anti-corruption agencies to combat corruption, while former Minister Lai Mohammed will address government-media relations.
The two-day event will culminate in the annual general meeting on December 12, where members will elect new leadership and review the outgoing executive’s tenure under Musikilu Mojeed.
Founded in 1950 and headquartered in Vienna, Austria, IPI is a global network of media professionals committed to advocating for media freedom and journalists’ rights. IPI Nigeria, the local chapter, remains dedicated to fostering credible journalism and the free flow of information in Africa’s largest economy.
For more updates and information on the conference, visit the IPI Nigeria official channels.
