Vice President Kashim Shettima is set to spearhead an array of distinguished guests at the 2025 International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM), highlighting the significance of the event in the country’s media landscape.
The conference and AGM are scheduled to hold on December 2 and 3 at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Central Business District, Abuja, drawing eminent personalities from government, media, and academia.
Among the high-profile attendees are Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris; Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi; Professor Abiodun Adeniyi, Registrar of Baze University; former Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed; former presidential spokesperson Mallam Garba Shehu; and former State Chief of Protocol to ex-President Buhari, Ambassador Lawal Kazaure.
The event will also host prominent media figures including Scott Griffen, Executive Director of IPI Global, and former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba. Presidents of Nigeria’s major media associations are invited, including Maiden Alex-Ibru (NPAN), Eze Anaba (NGE), Danlami Nmodu (GOCOP), and Alhassan Yahya Abdul (NUJ).
Heads of key agencies under the Ministry of Information and National Orientation will also participate. They include Lanre Issa-Onilu (NOA), Jubrin Baba Ndace (VON), Mohammed Bulama (FRCN), Salihu Dembos (NTA), and Ali M. Ali (NAN).
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Other notable attendees include former SGF Director of Information Haruna Imrana, former NIJ Provost Gbemiga Ogunleye, IPI Global Board Member Raheem Adedoyin, Sule Yau Sule, Associate Professor at Bayero University, and Yushau Shuaib, Publisher of PRNigeria.
Vice President Shettima will chair the conference, while Minister Idris is expected to deliver a special remark. Scott Griffen will present a message of solidarity from IPI headquarters in Vienna, Austria.
Highlights of the conference include the unveiling of IPI Nigeria’s Book of Infamy by Professor Abiodun Adeniyi, and a Surprise Honorary Event coordinated by IPI Nigeria President Musikilu Mojeed.
The first session, “Addressing Media Repression in Nigeria: Safeguarding Press Freedom and Democratic Accountability,” will be presented by Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda (MRA). It will be moderated by Funke Egbemode and feature panelists including Lanre Arogundade (International Press Centre), Benjamin Hundeyin (Force PRO), Busola Ajibola (CJID), and Idayat Hassan (Office of the National Security Adviser).
The second session, “Building Sustainable Media in Nigeria: Navigating Innovation, Credibility, and Revenue Challenges,” will be delivered by Isiaq Ajibola, President/CEO of CBD MediaEdge Communications and Co-Founder of Media Trust Limited. Panelists include Olusola Momoh (Vice-Chair, Channels TV), Azu Ishiekwene (Editor-in-Chief, LEADERSHIP), and Kole Shettima (Director, MacArthur Foundation, Nigeria). The session will be moderated by Professor Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, UNILAG’s Director of the Institute of Continuing Education.
Activities on the second day are reserved exclusively for IPI Nigeria members and will conclude with the induction of new members, further strengthening the institute’s role in advancing press freedom and media excellence in Nigeria.
