IPI Inaugurates 3 Committees To Promote Journalism, Press Freedom In Nigeria

The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) on Tuesday inaugurated three standing committees that were tasked with helping to drive the organization’s objective of promoting journalism and press freedom in Nigeria.

Inaugurating the committees, Kadaria Ahmed, a member of the IPI Nigeria’s Board of Trustees (BOT), noted that the challenges ahead of the executive committee are enormous  submitting that ‘it is a right decision to constitute the committees to help drive the organization’s objectives’.

Mrs Ahmed, who  spoke on behalf of the Chairman of the IPI Nigeria Board of Trustees, Kabiru A. Yusuf, expressed the readiness of the BOT to support the executives at all times.

Earlier, the President of IPI Nigeria, Mr. Musikilu Mojeed,  had noted that  the committees were constituted to enhance the work of the organization, bring in more inclusiveness and more buy-in of the work IPI Nigeria does.

A statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by IPI Nigeria’s Secretary, Ahmed I. Shekarau  noted that Mr. Mojeed urged members to pay their membership and annual dues to enable the organization to execute laudable programmes that members would benefit from.

 Three committees were inaugurated with a former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) , who is also the immediate past Osun state Commissioner for Information, Funke Egbemode heading the Fund Raising Committee while Hajia Sani, the Director, Digital Media, Voice of Nigeria (VON)  will serve as chairperson of the Programme Committee.

The statement noted that the  Advocacy Committee is headed by IPI Nigeria’s Legal Adviser, Tobi Soniyi.

In their separate speeches, chairpersons  of the committees expressed their readiness to work for IPI Nigeria while soliciting the support of all members.

An Executive Board member of IPI Global, Raheem Adedoyin, also said the inauguration of the committees ‘is one of the best steps taken so far by the IPI Nigeria’.

He advised IPI Nigeria to continue to engage with the Nigerian authorities in its advocacy programmes, and avoid unnecessary confrontation as much as possible.

Rather than wait for external funding, he advised members to save money to enable them fund their trips abroad to attend some of the training sessions and congresses of the IPI, adding that they stand to benefit more from such sessions.

The committees and their memberships are as follows:

1.     Fund Raising

a.     Mrs. Funke Egbemode, Chairperson

b.     Mr. Aliu Akoshile, CEO/Editor-in-Chief, NatureNews 247

c.     Mr. Fred Ohwahwa, Senior Partner, Tokee Consult Limited

d.     Mrs. Victoria Ibanga, Publisher, The Next Edition

e.     Mr. Bashir Adigun,  Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s Special Adviser  on Political Communication

f.       Mrs. Rafatu Salami, Assistant Director, Digital Media, Voice of Nigeria (VON)

2.     Programming

a.     Hajia Sani, Chairperson

b.     Dr. Elizabeth Ikem, former Provost, Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ)

c.     Mr. Ken Ugbechie, Publisher, Political Economist NG

d.     Hajiya Zainab O. Suleiman, Chairman, Editorial Board, Blueprint

e.     Ahmed I. Shekarau, Group Executive Director, Media Trust Group

3.     Advocacy

a.     Mr. Toby Soniyi, Chairman

b.     Mrs. Catherine Agbo, Deputy Editor, 24th Century Chronicle

c.     Mr. Ukeh Onouha, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, The Sun

d.     Mr. Danlami Nmodu, mni, Publisher, Newsdiaryonline

e.     Dr. Hameed M. Bello, Chief Operating Officer, Peoples Daily Newspaper- Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you