Nigeria has accepted to host the maiden meeting of the African bloc of the National Committees of the International Press Institute (IPI).
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris Malagi, gave the indication during a meeting at the weekend in Vienna, Austria, with the Chairman of the IPI Executive Board, Mr. Marton Gergely; the IPI Executive Director, Mr. Scott Griffen; and the IPI Executive Board member representing Nigeria and Africa, Mr. Raheem Adedoyin
The IPI Board on Thursday had approved the creation of regional blocs of National committees as a means of dealing with specific regional interests within the IPI community.
“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.
The Minister recalled that Nigeria successfully hosted the IPI World Congress & General Assembly in Abuja in 2018 adding that Nigeria is ready for another world-class hosting .
No date has been fixed for the meeting but the IPI Executive Director, Mr. Scott Griffen said the IPI Secretariat in Vienna will work out the details with the IPI Executive Board member representing Nigeria and Africa, Mr. Raheem Adedoyin,, and the Nigerian National Committee.
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The Chairman of the IPI Executive Board, Mr. Marton Gergely, acknowledged that Nigeria is a leading light in democratic governance with a free press while Griffen praised the Nigeria National Committee for its robust press freedom engagements.
The Minister also discussed with the IPI Leadership on the IPI NigerIa National Committee’s lingering quest for IPI assistance for the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos.
NIJ was founded by the IPI in 1971 during the Board presidency of the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande. It’s governing board is chaired by IPI leader and former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba.
The Minister, who is a leading member of IPI was a registered participant at the just- concluded IPI world congress and 75th anniversary held in Vienna.
The strong Nigerian delegation at the Congress included Board member, Raheem Adedoyin; IPI Nigeria President, Musikilu Mojeed; former Presidential Spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu; Associate Professor of Mass Communication, Advisor, Public Communication, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dr. Fabian Benjamin; Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye; the CEO, Patrons Media/The Culture Newspaper, Mr. Steve Ayirinde; Processor of Mass Communication and Member of IPI Nigeria Board of Trustees, University of Lagos, Prof. Abigail Ogwuensi and IPI Nigeria legal Adviser, Mr. Tobi Soniyi.
PR/ Dominica Nwabufo