Abuja: Nigeria has accepted the responsibility to host the inaugural meeting of the African bloc of the National Committees of the International Press Institute (IPI). The announcement was made by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, during a recent meeting in Vienna, Austria.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the meeting included discussions with key figures such as the Chairman of the IPI Executive Board, Mr. Marton Gergely, IPI Executive Director, Mr. Scott Griffen, and IPI Executive Board Member representing Nigeria and Africa, Mr. Raheem Adedoyin. During the meeting, Idris’ Special Assistant on Media, Malam Rabiu Ibrahim, highlighted the IPI Board’s recent approval to create regional blocs of National Committees. This initiative aims to address specific regional interests within the global IPI community.
Idris expressed Nigeria’s readiness to host the event, stating, “Nigeria agrees to host the maiden meeting of the African bloc. It is a great honor for us to lead as we always do.” He reminded the participants of Nigeria’s successful hosting of the IPI World Congress and General Assembly in Abuja in 2018 and assured that the country is prepared for another significant hosting event.
While the exact date for the meeting is yet to be determined, Griffen mentioned that the IPI Secretariat in Vienna would collaborate with Adedoyin and the IPI Nigeria National Committee to finalize the details. Gergely and Griffen both recognized Nigeria’s role in promoting democratic governance and press freedom, commending the Nigeria National Committee for its active involvement in these areas.
Idris also took the opportunity to discuss the ongoing request from the IPI Nigeria National Committee for support from IPI for the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Ogba, Lagos. He noted that the NIJ was established by the IPI in 1971, during the board presidency of the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, and its Governing Board is currently led by IPI leader and former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba.