Acting President Osinbajo asks media leaders to deal with cancer of hate speech

OFFICE OF THE ACTING PRESIDENT

PRESS RELEASE

OSINBAJO PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR IPI 2018 IN ABUJA   

Acting President of Nigeria, Oluyemi Osinbajo

In line with its commitment to promote private sector partnership, the Buhari administration will partner the Nigerian chapter of the International Press Institute (IPI) to host a hitch-free 2018 World Congress of the Global Network of Free Media, according to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo gave the assurance when the board of the Nigerian chapter of the International Press Institute (IPI), paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa earlier today to intimate him on plans for the forthcoming event scheduled for Abuja in June 2018.

According to the Acting President, ``It is a very important opportunity for Nigeria to showcase ourselves and also to show that Nigeria is safe and secure for business. It is also an opportunity to advertise all of our ease of doing business initiatives.’’

The Acting President also assured the visiting IPI board that states could participate in the hosting of the event especially as it provides ``an important opportunity for tourism and for them to showcase some of the great initiatives that they have.’’

He urged the local organising committee to consider putting on the agenda of the event, the issue of hate speech and its implications for our polity and for peace and security.

According to him, ``the forum is an important one for raising the question of hate speech and its implications for our country, for our polity and for peace and security.’’

He added: ``somehow these things are resonating all over the world, new found nationalism and all of that. But I think for us here in Nigeria, it is a very important issue.

``I think that it is important that we find ways of controlling these things. I think that we owe a responsibility, especially leaders of journalism, to find ways of dealing with this issue because it is a cancer.’’     

Earlier, the leader of the delegation and chairman of Thisday newspaper, Chief Nduka Obaigbena solicited the support the Federal Government in the hosting of the event in different areas including, the provision of a secured and safe environment for delegates, visas on arrival amongst others.

Obiagbena stated that the issue of hate speech will indeed form one of the thematic issues to be discussed during the IPI congress.

He thanked the Acting President for the pledge to support IPI Nigeria in the hosting a hitch-free congress.  

The Acting President later thanked the delegation for the visit and for their efforts in ensuring that Nigeria was given the opportunity to host the IPI World congress. 

Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President

Office of the Vice President

16th August 2017