The International Press Centre (IPC), recently, held a one-day engagement with print and online media executives from the South-West, preparatory to the 2027 elections.
The event was held in Ibadan, in collaboration with the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II), under Component Four (4): Support For The Media.
It was part of the continuous effort by the EU-SDGN to support Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly to encourage more women participation in politics.
The EU-SDGN is the European Union’s flagship democracy support programme in Nigeria, designed to complement efforts of the Nigerian Government to strengthen democracy.
The interface with the online executives was tagged “Engagement With Print & Online Media Operational Leaders (Interface With Media Executives From Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo & Ekiti States).
The engagement highlighted the importance of collaboration between the media, civil society, and government in promoting democracy and good governance in Nigeria.
Speaking during the interface, the Executive Director of the IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade, disclosed that the objective of the EU-SDGN intervention was to strengthen the media for improved, fair and ethical reporting of elections in Nigeria.
According to him, though the 2027 general election is still some two years away, but the engagement was a continuous exercise which was started two years ago.
Arogundade said the expected results included improved professionalism, with emphasis on involvement of female journalists; combating misinformation and disinformation; promotion of voters’ education; improved usage of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act and improvement in women engagement in politics.
The IPC Executive Director emphasised the importance of the media, especially the Online Media, in furtherance of the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria.
Arogundade also charged them to embrace the tools of modern journalism by engaging more in fact-checking, and civil responsibilities.
He also encouraged them to promote more women participation in politics, give more space to youth and persons with disabilities in their various media outlets, and educate the public on political and voting processes as the 2027 elections approach.
The media executives present at the one-day engagement commended the IPC and particularly praised the EU-SDGN for its significant contributions to the Nigerian society, particularly the media industry.
Chairman of the South-West Guild of Online Publishers (SWEGOP), Pastor Bisi Oladele, expressed the readiness of the Guild to partner with the IPC and EU-SDGN to promote professionalism among online publishers.
The Publisher of Parrot Xtra Magazine and PMParrot, Mr. Olayinka Agboola, called for continued training and workshops to upgrade the skills and quality of journalists across the country.
Also speaking at the media engagement, Mr Dapo Falade, Publisher of Newscoven.com, expressed his appreciation to IPC and EU-SDGN for the recognition accorded the beneficiary media executives in the quest to deepen the country’s democracy.
He said the engagement was an eye-opener, adding that it will spur media practitioners to seek to do more, in partnership with the two organisations.
He however expressed concerns about the attitude of women in positions of authority, beyond politics, noting that most of them are not friendly when interacting with media practitioners.
Narrating his personal experience, Falade said: “I have, on more than one occasion, experienced negativities from women in power in the quest to promote their activities. This is not limited to women occupying elective and appointed public offices alone.
“A friend of mine who lives in the UK once came around. We went to a social event here in Ibadan where he introduced me to his female friend who is a top executive of a commercial bank. After exchanging pleasantries, I told the woman that I will like to have an appointment with her for an interview on the role of women bankers and their challenges.
“She willingly gave me her phone contact. But I was surprised when I latter called her and she gave me the cold shoulder and told me off that I was probably trying to get into a relationship with her.
“This is the same attitude with most of the women in politics who will not make themselves available to media practitioners, especially male journalists, in the quest to highlight and promote their activities. IPC and EU-SDGN should organise awareness programmes to ensure attitudinal change on the part of the womenfolk.”
In attendance were 16 media executives, including Olayinka Agboola, (PM Parrot), Bisi Oladele (Newspeakonline), Dapo Falade (Newscoven.com), Mr Olaoluwa Mimiola (ReportersAtLarge), Chief Tunde Busari (TheTabloid.net), OyoInsight (represented), Yusuf Oyetola (Acting Editor, Osun Defender) and Francis Ezediuno (Arise News Daily).
Others present were Ayobami Agboola (City Mirror), Jare Tiamiyu (Insight News), Leke Adegbite (Sunshine Truth), Adewale Momoh, Okeowo (News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ekiti State), Emmanuel Adeniran (Treasure Newspaper), Taiwo Abiodun Peter (SalientTimesOnline) and Gbenga Oladipupo (National Trumpet).
