As Nigeria joins the rest of the globe on Wednesday to mark the World Press Freedom Day, PUNCH Media Foundation will host a Twitter Space to celebrate journalists and media workers and to shape opinions for a free and safer space for the press to thrive.
First marked on May 3, 1993, the World Press Freedom Day seeks to address issues surrounding freedom of the press by state and non-state actors. The WPF Day is celebrated every year to promote and defend the principles of press freedom
In line with the 2023 World Press Freedom Day themed, ‘Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights’, the Twitter Space event will provide an opportunity for journalists, activists, policymakers, human rights defenders, and the public to discuss and explore the role of press freedom as a critical driver for the promotion and protection of all other human rights.
The session is titled, ‘Media Freedom And Freedom Of Expression In Nigeria’s Democratic Space: Barriers And Way Forward’.
Speakers at the interaction session are the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Anthony Okechukwu Ojukwu, and the Chief Executive Officer of Women Radio 91.7, Toun Okewale Sonaiya.
While Ojukwu will speak on promoting and ensuring press freedom and the NHRC’s plan towards the sustainability of press freedom in Nigeria, Sonaiya will discuss shaping a future of rights for all, especially through media independence, the role of the media in press freedom, and interventions to protect the rights of female journalists and media workers.
Other speakers include the Deputy Director of Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, Kolawole Oluwadare; and Editor-in-Chief, Cross River Watch, Agba Jalingo.
The Director, Centre for Democracy and Development, Idayat Hassan, will deliver action points to achieving and sustaining good governance and accountable democracy through press freedom and freedom of expression while human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, will give insight on the legal frameworks, boundaries, and rights of the media as well as the public as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
The Twitter Space, which will take place on Wednesday 3, 2023, at 11 am will be moderated by media personality, Stephanie Adams-Douglas.
Participants can join the space via https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1MnGnpNmMwmxO
