The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria is set to converge in Abuja this December, with a powerful focus on the alarming decline of press freedom, especially for those operating in the digital space, reports ITREALMS.
Nigeria’s standing has dropped sharply, a 10-place fall to 122nd in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a stark indicator of the rising threats faced by online journalists and traditional media alike.
The troubling indicator will dominate discussions on December 2nd and 3rd at the Annual Conference and AGM. The situation is dire: RSF notes that authorities “keep investigative journalists under close surveillance and do not hesitate to threaten and arbitrarily detain them.” For digital publishers and reporters, this translates to heightened risk of tracking and unwarranted arrests, often carried out with impunity.
The first major paper, “Addressing Media Repression in Nigeria: Safeguarding Press Freedom and Democratic Accountability,” will be delivered by Edetaen Ojo of Media Rights Agenda (MRA). The session is poised to dissect the specific mechanism of surveillance and digital intimidation used against reporters covering critical issues.
Panelists set to challenge the status quo include IPC Executive Director Lanre Arogundade and the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin.
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The troubling indicator will dominate discussions on December 2nd and 3rd at the Annual Conference and AGM. The situation is dire: RSF notes that authorities “keep investigative journalists under close surveillance and do not hesitate to threaten and arbitrarily detain them.” For digital publishers and reporters, this translates to heightened risk of tracking and unwarranted arrests, often carried out with impunity.
The first major paper, “Addressing Media Repression in Nigeria: Safeguarding Press Freedom and Democratic Accountability,” will be delivered by Edetaen Ojo of Media Rights Agenda (MRA). The session is poised to dissect the specific mechanism of surveillance and digital intimidation used against reporters covering critical issues.
Panelists set to challenge the status quo include IPC Executive Director Lanre Arogundade and the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin.
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Acknowledging that press freedom is intrinsically linked to economic stability, the conference will also host a crucial session on the media’s future in the digital economy.
The second paper, “Building Sustainable Media in Nigeria: Navigating Innovation, Credibility, and Revenue Challenges,” will be delivered by Isiaq Ajibola, Co-Founder of Media Trust Limited. This discussion is vital for online publishers and tech-driven media houses struggling with monetization and technological shifts.
A high-powered panel including Olusola Momoh of Channels Television, Editor-In-Chief Azu Ishiekwene, and MacArthur Foundation’s Kole Shettima will explore innovative revenue models and the imperative of maintaining digital credibility.
Presidents of major media associations, including Eze Anaba (NGE) and, significantly for the digital community, Danlami Nmodu (President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers - GOCOP), will be in attendance, ready to press for concrete policy changes to protect the media and uphold democratic accountability.
*Remmy Nweke/DoP
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