The Media Rights Agenda, MRA, Global Rights: Advocates for Sustainable Justice, in collaboration with the International Press Centre, IPC, and the Centre for Media and Society, CEMESO, have reaffirmed their organisation’s commitment to issues of journalists safety and well being.

The four human rights and media support organisations called on federal and state governments to adopt measures towards enhancing media freedom and safety of journalists in Nigeria.

The groups announced their collaborative activities to commemorate 2024 World Press Freedom Day in Lagos and Abuja on 3rd May.

As the world celebrates World Press Freedom Day on 3rd May, they reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the fundamental principles of free speech, independent journalism, and the protection of press freedoms worldwide knowing that a free and independent media is the oxygen of democracy.

MRA Executive Director, Edetaen Ojo, said in a statement in Lagos, that they are determined to work with like-minded individuals and organisations towards the emergence of an environment where media professionals can carry out their professional functions without fear or intimidation and where the media can realise its true purpose.

On his part, IPC Director, Lanre Arogundade, commended journalists for their resilience in the face of challenges, lauding journalists who continue to pursue the truth, often at great personal risk,

CEMESO Executive Director, Dr Akin Akingbulu called on governments, civil society organisations, and the public to join the collaboration towards defending press freedom, protection journalists, and ensuring that information remains a public good accessible to all.

He said together, let us stand united in support of press freedom and the fundamental principles of democracy.

The human rights and media support say they would be convening in Lagos on Friday to commemorate World Press Freedom Day.

The event theme is: “The Imperative of Media Freedom for Democratic Governance, to underscore role media play in promoting transparency, accountability, good governance and democracy.

It will attract media stakeholders drawn from among journalists and editors, media owners and managers, civil society organisations, the academia, and others, participating physically and virtually.

Activities will include journalists who have faced various forms of attacks sharing their experience and a presentation on counselling for victims, as well as presentations on civil society efforts designed to strengthen the media as they strive to promote democracy, human rights and social justice.

The statement added that a separate event will be hosted in Abuja by Global Rights in collaboration with MRA and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR).

The event, a Webinar, is aimed at sparking a conversation on how to safeguard press freedoms in Africa and how the operational environment for the press can be improved in Nigeria and across the continent.

It will identify global best practices that create a conducive and enabling environment for the press and share experiences of how they can be domesticated in a way that makes them more easily accessible to journalists and other media professionals in Nigeria.

The World Press Freedom Day is celebrated on 3rd May annually to remind governments of the need for them to respect their commitment to press freedom and create a safe and conducive environment for journalism and media practice.