Nigeria has been selected to host the maiden meeting of the African bloc of the National Committees of the International Press Institute (IPI).
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, announced this development during a high-level meeting in Vienna, Austria, with IPI Executive Board Chairman, Mr. Marton Gergely; Executive Director, Mr. Scott Griffen; and Nigeria’s representative on the IPI Executive Board, Mr. Raheem Adedoyin.
The decision follows IPI’s approval of the creation of regional blocs of National Committees aimed at addressing region-specific interests within the global IPI network.
“Nigeria agrees to host the maiden meeting of the African bloc. It is a great honour for us to lead as we always do,” Idris said.
He recalled Nigeria’s successful hosting of the IPI World Congress and General Assembly in Abuja in 2018, assuring that the country remains ready for another world-class event.
Although the date for the meeting is yet to be fixed, Mr. Griffen disclosed that the IPI Secretariat in Vienna will collaborate with Mr. Adedoyin and the IPI Nigeria National Committee to finalize details.
Mr. Gergely described Nigeria as a “leading light in democratic governance and press freedom,” while Mr. Griffen commended the Nigerian National Committee for its active engagement in promoting media independence and freedom of expression.
During the discussions, Minister Idris also revisited Nigeria’s request for IPI’s support to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos—an institution founded by IPI in 1971 during the presidency of the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande.
The Minister noted that the NIJ’s Governing Board is currently chaired by former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba.
The Minister, who is a long-standing member of the IPI, was among participants at the recently concluded IPI World Congress and 75th Anniversary in Vienna.
The Nigerian delegation also included Mr. Raheem Adedoyin; IPI Nigeria President, Musikilu Mojeed; former Presidential Spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu; JAMB Adviser, Dr. Fabian Benjamin; Chief Press Secretary to Kwara Governor, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye; Patrons Media CEO, Mr. Steve Ayorinde; Professor Abigail Ogwuensi of UNILAG; and IPI Nigeria Legal Adviser, Mr. Tobi Soniyi.