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IPI boss stresses quality reporting in nation building

By Margaret Mwantok
06 March 2018   |   3:38 am
With recent changes in political, economical, technological spheres, the African media is also experiencing major changes in their reportage. Ahead of the world congress of the International Press Institute (IPI) scheduled to hold in Abuja on June 21 through 23, 2018, director of the world body, Barbara Trionfi, last week visited Nigeria. The congress, which…

Barbara Trionfi

With recent changes in political, economical, technological spheres, the African media is also experiencing major changes in their reportage. Ahead of the world congress of the International Press Institute (IPI) scheduled to hold in Abuja on June 21 through 23, 2018, director of the world body, Barbara Trionfi, last week visited Nigeria.

The congress, which has ‘Why Journalism Matters: Quality Media for Strong Societies’ as theme would affirm the indispensable role of quality journalism in building strong societies, showcasing investigative stories and projects that bring positive changes to individuals and communities in Africa and around the world.

With background in international relations and human rights, Trionfi joined the IPI in 2000 as a Press Freedom Adviser for the Asia-Pacific region.

The director said her visit to Nigeria was important, as “IPI is excited to hold its World Congress in Abuja this year and thankful to Nigeria’s leading news organisations for hosting it. For many years, IPI’s Nigeria National Committee has shown a great commitment to press freedom and quality journalism.

The Abuja World Congress represents a unique opportunity for IPI’s global network of editors, leading journalists and media executives to build closer ties with their colleagues in Nigeria and West Africa, share experiences and advance a common strategy for safe, independent, public-interest journalism.”

On what informed the decision to settle for Nigeria, as host country for the 2018 edition, the IPI boss said Nigeria is not only Africa’s largest country in terms of population, but a vibrant country that has, over the years, attracted international attention.

IPI as a global network of editors, journalists and media executives across the world promotes conditions that allow the media to operate free from interference and without fear of retaliation.

This year’s IPI World Congress promises to attract hundreds of leading editors and journalists from across the world, to provide different views on the numerous challenges journalists face in the course of their work. Many are happy that the event would provide another opportunity to showcase Nigeria and her potentials.

During a visit to the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, in Lagos, alongside some executives of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Trionfi said she was in Nigeria to engage stakeholders and individuals who support journalists’ cause towards building a better and informed society.

She also stated that the congress would help journalists in this part of the world to understand better what is going on in the international media arena.
 
She stressed that the World Congress would give opportunities to journalists across the world to share ideas, adding that it was the desire of members of the global media body to use their journalistic tools to bring forward their ideas.
 
While reacting, Elumelu reeled out different areas of operation of his group, stating that the group was more passionate about its foundation. He said it would be willing to partner IPI to deepen its humanitarian services, and expressed optimism that the congress would enable the world to focus more on Nigeria while it lasted.

While commending the media for using dialogue and advocacy to educate government on the importance of creating the right environment for the youths as essential for national development, the businessman admitted that the institute would be an ideal platform for any forward-looking organisation and individuals to collectively make government more accountable as well as create the right environment for start-up businesses to succeed.
 
According to Elumelu, “We also have to make government understand that the success of these start-up businesses and the overall progress of the society depend on them. I’m happy that you’ve chosen Nigeria, as a country to host this event.

And when you all come, the world will know something is happening in Nigeria and our people will get more encouraged and organised so that we’ll become better in creating the right policies.”

Traori further admitted that Nigeria parades outstanding journalists, with a vibrant media industry that is in a better position to nurture the country’s democracy.

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