By Barth Ikiebe.
The Nigerian Press Council, NPC, has hailed the recent election of the publisher of The Guardian newspaper, Lady Maiden Alex Ibru, as the new President of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN, as well as the appointment of a veteran journalist, Mr. Segun Adediran, as the General Manager/ Chief Executive Officer of the association.
In a statement, the Council’s Director, Research and Documentation, Mr. Dan Ede, quoted the Executive Secretary of the Council, Dr. Dili Ezughah, as saying that “the development is a harbinger of a new dawn in the association in particular and the Nigerian Press in general”.
It stated that Dr. Ezughah described Lady Alex Ibru as an “amazon in the country’s media industry, who would bring her midas touch and managerial prowess to bear in piloting the affairs of NPAN”.
Dr Ezughah also commended the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer to take charge of the day-to-day affairs of the body, describing the appointment of Mr. Adediran as apt, adding that he would use his wealth of experience in the media and robust academic background to reposition the association.
The Executive Secretary urged NPAN and other stakeholders in the nation’s media ecosystem to join hands with the Nigerian Press Council to promote professionalism in the country’s journalism.
He remarked that “the growing incidence of misinformation, disinformation, fake news and hate speech in the media is a gross disservice to society”.
Dr. Ezughah reiterated that the Council should be seen as a partner in the development of journalism, not as an agency for muzzling the press.
