Preparations for Nigeria’s hosting of the 2018 World Congress and General Assembly of the International Press Institute (IPI) have kicked off with the composition of nine planning committees.
The committees, set up at an extraordinary meeting of Nigerian Media Stakeholders, which held on Tuesday, November 28, at George Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, are the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and Committees on Finance; Sponsorship; Programme and Events; Media and Publicity; Transport and Logistics; Contact and Protocol; Venue and Accommodation and Security.
The LOC is headed by the President of the Newspapers Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Prince Nduka Obaigbena, with Mallam Kabiru Yusuf and Mallam Garba Shehu as deputy chairmen.
IPI Nigeria Secretary, Mr. Raheem Adedoyin, will serve as member/secretary.
Other members of the LOC include Mallam Ismaila Isa, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Mallam Wada Maida, Lady Maiden Ibru, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, Mr. John Momoh, Mallam Yakubu Muhamned, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Dr. Tonnie Iredia, Sir Folu Olamiti.
Also in the LOC are Mrs Funke Egbemode, Mr. Waheed Odusile, Mr. Victor Ifijeh, Mr. Emma Agu, Mallam Mohamned Idris and Mr. Eric Osagie.
Heads of the other committees, their deputies and secretaries are: Finance: Mallam Ismaila Isa chairman), Mallam Kabiru Yusuf (deputy chair), Mr. Waheed Odusile (member/secretary)
Sponsorship: Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (chair), Prince Nduka Obaigbena (deputy chair), Victoria Ibanga (member/secretary).
Programme and Events: Mallam Kabiru Yusuf (chair), Mr. Eniola Bello (deputy chair), Tracia Ubani (member/secretary).
Transportation and Logistics: Sir Folu Olamiti (chair), Mr. Nnamdi Njemanze (deputy chair), Dr. Qasim Akinreti (member/secretary).
Media and Publicity: Dr. Tonnie Iredia (chairman), Mr. Eric Osagie (deputy chair), Mr. Yemi Ajayi (member/secretary).
Contact and Protocol: Mallam Garba Shehu (chair), Mrs Comfort Obi (deputy chair), Hajia H. H. Sanni (member/secretary).
Venue and Accommodation: Mallam Wada Maida (chair), Mrs Funke Egbemode (deputy chair), Catherine Agbo (member/secretary).
Security: Mallam Idris Mohammed (chair), Mr. Madu Onuorah (deputy chair), Madam Rafat Salami (member/secretary).
In his remarks at the stakeholders’ meeting, Obaigbena said the Nigerian media is ready to host the world.
“We have the whole world to host in six months and we are prepared to host the world in six months; to showcase the best of Nigeria and the best of Africa,” he said.
Obaigbena also promised that the host committee, “will promote an agenda on issues that matter to us (Nigerians) and that matter to Africa.”
The committees are to meet this month, to fashion out a work plan and submit their reports to the LOC, in January 2018.