The Chairman of the 2025 FCT Nigeria Union Of Journalists Press Week organising Committee, Ms Evelyn Onyilo says “press freedom is non-negotiable”.
Speaking at the 2025 “Walk for Press Freedom”, she said that Journalists have the constitutional responsibility of utilizing “freedom of information” in the reportage of the activities of governments, while citizens also have the right to speak through the media.
“the message we want to carry out from here, is that governments must remain accountable to the people, and it is the job of the journalists to ensure that governments are accountable to the people,” she said
She equally underscored the importance of building a good working relationship between government and the media practitioners
which does not compromise ethical reporting.
“While we believe that there should be a good working relationship between governments and the media, the rights of journalists should also be protected when they are carrying out this responsibility,” Onyilo said.
She urged journalists to turn out enmasse and participate in the public lecture holding on Tuesday, July 22nd 2025 at prestigious Transcorp Hilton, Abuja to brainstorm and interrogate the theme “journalism in a changing world; democracy, press freedom, media and the society”.
Also speaking to Voice of Nigeria, Livinus Chibike Victor, a journalist who had experienced detention, brutality, and intimidation as a journalist, said journalists, should be allowed to carry out their duties according to the ethics of the profession without censorship.
He pointed out that when journalists are not allowed to carry out their duties the way they should, it is pointer to censorship and an aberration to the freedom of the press..
Victor recounts experience:
“I was picked up as a young journalist who went to report a particular event and I did my story and I had to say it the way it was.
So I was called to… Why did I report it the way I did? That I’m supposed to change the story, change the whole headlines and everything.
I’m not supposed to report it the way it actually happened. So that’s the reason why I was detained.
I was not just detained, I was intimidated, I was beaten and all the rest of them,” He recollected.
Harping on the importance of Press Freedom, he noted that “People need to know that the freedom of press or freedom of expression is not just a privilege, it’s a right, and people should be allowed to it carry out”.
He further cautioned journalists, on the need for ethical, responsible journalism, advising, “When you’re doing what you’re doing, you should also watch your left and your right”.
Rounding off, Victor, commended the FCT NUJ for organising the “Walk for Press Freedom” describing it as a step in the right direction.
“We need to sensitise the public, we need to create more awareness.” He said
He maintained that journalism is a noble profession, but a lot still needs to be done to safeguard Press Freedom.
“this is the time that you should be proud to be a journalist or to be called a journalist, and I encourage them to stay strong, remain steadfast, continue to push. We are not there yet, but I believe that we will get there,” He charged
The theme of the 2025 NUJ FCT Press Week is: “journalism in a changing world; democracy, press freedom, media and the society”.
Olusola Akintonde