WPFD 2021: IPC, NUJ others hold forum on information as public good

The International Press Centre (IPC), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other stakeholders will today Wednesday 5th, May 2021 convey a forum.

“On Wednesday May 5, 2021, IPC, in partnership with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigerian Guild of Editors, the Radio Television Theatre and Arts Workers Union and other stakeholders, will convey a forum on ‘Information as Public Good and the Quest for Press Freedom in Nigeria’ in Abuja, FCT.”

A statement by IPC’s Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said the events are pursuant to the theme of the year 2021 WPFD – ‘Information as Public Good’.

“Year 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the Windhoek, Namibia, Declaration on an Independent and Pluralistic African Media which led to the decision of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as adopted by the UN General Assembly to declare May 3rd as WPFD. “It is this significance that has informed our decision to organise series of events to commemorate the milestone including two webinars and the stakeholders’ forum,” Arogundade explained.

At the Abuja May 5 event, IPC will present its annual report on the documentation of attacks on journalists in Nigeria while there will be a roundtable discussion on “Information as A Public Good and The Quest for Press Freedom” with Rev. Fr. George Ehusani as the lead Speaker. A panel of five comprising representatives of media professional bodies, the civil society and the bar will serve as discussants.

The Abuja forum is expected to fashion a road map on improved mechanisms for the defence of press freedom in Nigeria.

The stakeholders’ forum are being respectively supported by the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) and the Open Society Foundation (OSF) under IPC’s safety of journalists and enhanced safety awareness programmes.

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