Matilda Omonaiye/
Vice President Kashim Shettima is set to headline a stellar gathering of Nigeria’s most influential voices in media, security, governance, and academia at the 2025 Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria.
The two-day event, scheduled for December 2–3, 2025, at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja, promises to be one of the most consequential media conversations in recent years.
Shettima, who will chair the opening session, leads a distinguished lineup that underscores the weight of this year’s conference.
Among the dignitaries expected are Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi; and celebrated scholar and Baze University Registrar, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi.
Other high-profile invitees include former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; ex-presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu; and former State Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Lawal Kazaure.
NewsmakersNG learnt that former Ogun State governor and veteran journalist, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, will also grace the occasion.
From the international media community, the Executive Director of IPI Global, Scott Griffen, will attend and deliver a solidarity message from the organisation’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria.
Nigeria’s major media associations will be fully represented, as their presidents have been invited: Maiden Alex-Ibru (NPAN), Eze Anaba (NGE), Danlami Nmodu, mni (GOCOP), and Alhassan Yahya Abdul (NUJ).
Heads of key government information agencies, including NOA, VON, FRCN, NTA, and NAN, will also participate.
A long list of eminent personalities from across the media and academic spectrum is expected, including Haruna Imrana, former SGF Information Director; former NIJ Provost, Gbemiga Ogunleye; IPI Global Board Member, Raheem Adedoyin; BUK scholar, Dr. Sule Yau Sule; and PRNigeria Publisher, Yushau Shuaib.
One of the conference highlights will be the unveiling of the IPI Nigeria Book of Infamy, to be performed by Prof. Adeniyi. IPI Nigeria President, Musikilu Mojeed, will also coordinate a Surprise Honorary Event for distinguished contributors to media excellence.
The conference will feature two major papers.
The first, “Addressing Media Repression in Nigeria: Safeguarding Press Freedom and Democratic Accountability,” will be delivered by Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda (MRA). Funke Egbemode will moderate the session, featuring panelists such as Lanre Arogundade, Benjamin Hundeyin, Busola Ajibola, and Idayat Hassan.
The second paper, “Building Sustainable Media in Nigeria: Navigating Innovation, Credibility, and Revenue Challenges,” will be presented by Isiaq Ajibola, President/CEO of CBD MediaEdge and Co-Founder of Media Trust Limited.
Panelists for this session include Channels TV Vice-Chair, Olusola Momoh; LEADERSHIP Editor-In-Chief, Azu Ishiekwene; and MacArthur Foundation Nigeria Director, Dr. Kole Shettima. The session will be moderated by UNILAG’s Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika.
The second day of the event is reserved exclusively for IPI Nigeria members and will feature the induction of new members into the institute.
The 2025 IPI Nigeria Conference is expected to shape national conversations on press freedom, media sustainability, and the evolving relationship between the media and national security in an era of heightened information challenges.
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