Several events and foras held in commemoration of the 2024 World Press Freedom Day on May 3. One of such is a symposium organized by Human Rights Journalists Network, Nigeria, HRJN, in collaboration with UNESCO, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and United Nations Information Center, which held in Lagos.
The symposium brought together media practitioners’ stakeholders and other related experts to rub mind on the state of the media in Nigeria and the way forward.
A recurrent point from most of the discourse is the call for unity and solidarity among newsrooms to prevent abuse and unlawful treatment of media practitioners as they expressed concern over the continued shrinking of the civic airspace as cases of arrest and forced abduction of journalists and social media enthusiasts has continued unabated in the country
Theme for the symposium is: “World Press Freedom Day: A Press for the Planet which elicits the invaluable roles played by Journalists in combating climate change and other emergencies worldwide.
Leading the discussion, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director of Nigeria Rights Agenda, highlighted the challenges faced by journalists and media houses in the course of duty. He lamented the attacks and violations against journalists, as according to him at least 45 cases have so far been recorded within the first year of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Ojo emphasized the need for journalists to assert their rights and seek redress when violated.
Focusing on recent incidents, Ojo highlighted the abduction and continued detention of reporters, including Ojukwu Justin Daniel of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ). He urged journalists to stand in solidarity against such abuses and to amplify factual stories suppressed by government officials or powerful individuals.
The Panel session, moderated by Shakirudeen Bankole, Bunmi Yekini, Vice Chairperson of the National Association of Women Journalists, Lagos Chapter, and Robert Egbe, a journalist and Communications Officer for Corporate Accountability and Public Participation in Africa (CAPPA), emphasized the co-relationship between the environment, health emergencies, and citizens’ wellbeing and so warned against attempts to privatize public water in Lagos State, stressing the importance of preserving this fundamental human right.
On his part, Kehinde Adegboyega, Executive Director of Human Rights Journalists Network and convener of the event, underscores the importance of regular dialogues to resist oppression and advocate for the preservation of freedom of speech and press.
The symposium concluded with a call for unity and solidarity among newsrooms to combat abuses and uphold press freedom in Nigeria.
It may be needful to state at this point that, Every May 3, the world stands together to observe International Press Freedom Day, raising awareness on the importance of freedom of expression, including a free press, as outlined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations. The day was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 in Namibia
