The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria has re-elected the editor-in-chief of Premium Times, Musikilu Mojeed, as its president and the chief executive officer of the Media Trust Group, Ahmed I. Shekarau, as secretary.
The duo, along four other officials, were elected unopposed and sworn in on Thursday, and will direct the affairs of the Nigerian affiliate of the global media body for the next three years.
A statement issued by a member of the global executive board of the IPI, Raheem Adedoyin, disclosed that other members elected into the executive committee of IPI Nigeria include Fidelis Mbah of Al Jazeera Television (deputy president); Rafatu Salami of Voice of Nigeria (treasurer); Yomi Adeboye of Herald Newspaper (assistant secretary) and Tobi Soniyi of Arise News (legal adviser).
Speaking during the inauguration of the new leaders, Mojeed, who promised inclusive administration, solicited the support and commitment of members to enable his team achieve the organisation’s set objective of enhancing the Nigerian media operating environment.
The election of new leaders was preceded by the organisation’s annual general meeting where the Mojeed-led executive rendered account of its three-year stewardship and updated members on the financial state of the body.
Some sections of the organisation’s constitution were also amended during the AGM.
A major highpoint of the event was the arrival of a former governor, Segun Osoba, a renowned journalist and prominent, longtime member of the IPI. He praised IPI Nigeria members for their commitment to press freedom, journalists’ rights and independent journalism.
Osoba further commended the organisation’s leadership for ensuring a successful conference.
Earlier, IPI Nigeria hosted a well-attended conference with the theme: “Democracy, Media Freedom and the Imperative of Protecting the Nigerian Civic Space.”
The minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, who chaired the conference’s opening day session, said press freedom exists in Nigeria.
The director-general, Department of State Services, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, gave a presentation on “Dissecting the Frosty Relationship Between the Nigerian Media and Security Agencies” while the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, spoke on “How the Media and Journalists can Partner Anti-corruption Agencies in the Fight Against Corruption.”
A former minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, addressed participants on the topic; “Government Vs Media: How to Reduce Tension, Enhance Mutual Understanding, and Avoid Censorship.”