Nigeria has agreed to host the first major African regional conference of the International Press Institute (IPI). The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, disclosed this during a meeting held in Vienna, Austria, where he met with the IPI Executive Board Chairperson, Mr. Marton Gergely; the IPI Executive Director, Mr. Scott Griffen; and the organization's representative for Nigeria and Africa, Mr. Raheem Adedoyin.
According to him, "Nigeria has agreed to host the Institute's first regional conference in Africa. It is a great honor for us to take the lead as we are used to."
This announcement follows the IPI's decision to establish regional hubs to cater to the specific needs of each region within the global IPI community.
The Minister also reminded the members how Nigeria successfully hosted a major IPI World Congress in Abuja in 2018, stating that the country is well-prepared to host another event.
Although a date for the conference has not yet been set, Mr. Griffen indicated that the IPI headquarters in Vienna would work out the details with Mr. Adedoyin and the Nigerian IPI Committee.
The IPI Executive Board Chairperson, Mr. Gergely, commended Nigeria as a leader in practicing democracy and protecting press freedom.
Similarly, Mr. Griffen praised the Nigerian IPI Committee for their steadfastness in defending the freedom of the press.
During the discussions, the Minister drew the attention of the IPI leaders to the need for more support from the organization for the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Ogba, Lagos — a school established by the IPI back in 1971 under the leadership of the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande.
He mentioned that the former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, is now the Chairman of the school's Governing Board.
Idris, who is a prominent member of the IPI, was among the participants at the major IPI World Congress and the institute's 75th-anniversary celebration held in Vienna.
Other members of the Nigerian delegation at the event included Mr. Raheem Adedoyin; the President of IPI Nigeria, Musikilu Mojeed; the former Presidential Spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu; Dr. Fabian Benjamin of JAMB; the Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor, Malam Rafiu Ajakaye; the CEO of Patrons Media/The Culture newspaper, Mr. Steve Ayorinde; Professor Abigail Ogwezzy of the University of Lagos; and the legal adviser to IPI Nigeria, Mr. Tobi Soniyi.