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The International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), both implementing partners of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EUSDGNII) project within Component 4: Support to Media, are set to hold two virtual events.
The first is a ‘Roundtable on Issues, Trends and Challenges in Coverage of The Electoral Process,’ while the second is an ‘Annual Stakeholders’ Meeting to review the Media’s Performance Scorecard.’
The initiatives seek to enhance democracy in Nigeria by harnessing the media, encompassing broadcast, print and online platforms — to actively engage with and provide professional coverage of the electoral process.
Scheduled to convene virtually on July 8 and 9, the inaugural meeting aims to tackle challenges related to misinformation and disinformation, examining the media’s role in upholding information integrity during the 2023 electoral processes and its impact on promoting voter education.
The outcome of the deliberations will inform the development of novel insights aimed at fostering enhanced strategic collaborations and achieving more impactful outcomes leading up to the 2027 elections.
The second meeting will evaluate the ‘Media’s Performance Scorecard’ in the elections and processes, assessing the effectiveness of media interventions in achieving their intended objectives.
Key stakeholders, encompassing media professionals from print, broadcast, and online platforms, as well as prominent figures in the media industry, will participate. This meeting aims to foster dialogue, exchange experiences, and share success stories to further enhance media conduct at elections.
The sessions will focus on key topics, including measures to elevate the professionalism of media professionals, strategies to combat electoral misinformation and disinformation, enriching the coverage of the electoral process, improving the dissemination of civic and voter education, fostering media awareness, utilising the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act to bolster accountability, strengthening the capabilities of broadcasting regulatory entities, and encouraging media involvement in advocating for the representation of women, youths, and marginalised groups in the political sphere.
In a statement, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, the Executive Director of IPC said: “The initiatives provide a platform for diverse stakeholders including journalists, election officials, and civil society representatives to collaboratively address emerging issues such as misinformation, voter suppression, and evolving electoral laws which in turn foster greater understanding and promote best practices”
Dr. Akin Akingbulu, Executive Director of CEMESO, said: “Both organisations are consistently exploring strategies that enhance transparency and accountability in media practices at elections”. “By evaluating critical metrics such as accuracy, fairness, and responsiveness to public concerns, stakeholders can gauge the media’s effectiveness in serving the public’s interest,” he added.
These initiatives are supported by the European Union, highlighting its commitment to promoting democratic values and media integrity in Nigeria.
