A female radio presenter with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria’s, Pacesetter FM, Umuahia, Ms Chinenye Iwuoha, was on May 4, 2020 abducted by gunmen near the Amakanma Estate in Umuahia, Umuahia South Government Area at about 7pm local time. They also robbed them of their valuables including laptops. The …
Read More »Monthly Archives: May 2020
MRA Calls on Federal Government to Ensure Safety, Release of Kidnapped Radio Presenter
Lagos, Wednesday, May 6, 2020: Media Rights Agenda (MRA) today condemned Monday’s abduction of Ms Chinenye Iwuoha, a presenter with the Pacesetter FM station of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in Umuahia, Abia State, by gunmen and called on the Federal Government and its law enforcement agencies to …
Read More »OGP Civil Society Steering Committee Members Call for Protection of Open, Inclusive and Accountable Governance
Civil society members of the Steering Committee of the Open Government Partnership OGP) have called on stakeholders to protect open, inclusive and accountable governance, while upholding democratic standards and personal rights as the world battles the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The OGP Civil Society Steering Committee members noted that the …
Read More »New Research Identifies Quality Journalism as Antidote to COVID-19 Disinformation
New research published by the United Nations (UN) and the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) has identified quality journalism as a major force for identifying and exposing disinformation. The research report finds that the ‘viral load’ of disinformation will only grow if journalism continues to suffer death blows inflicted by …
Read More »Court Sets to Deliver Judgment in FOI Suit Against University of Port Harcourt
A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt is set to deliver its judgment in the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act suit filed by Mr Mark Lenu, a Port Harcourt based journalist with Wish 99.5 FM, against the University of Port Harcourt and its vice-chancellor over their failure to comply …
Read More »MRA Joins Global Media Support Groups to Appeal for Journalism and Media Support in Response to COVID-19 Crisis
Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has joined scores of other global media support groups, press freedom, media development, and journalism support communities, to launch an emergency appeal for journalism and media support in response to the COVID-19 crisis as part of activities to mark the 2020 World Press Freedom Day and …
Read More »UN Expert Calls for End to Criminalisation of Journalism Around the World
The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. David Kaye, has called on States to free all media workers detained because of their work and stop the intimidation and repression of the independent press. In a statement …
Read More »Northern, South West Independent Broadcasters Seek Bailout Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic
Independent, privately-owned broadcasters in northern and south-western Nigeria have called for financial interventions to support their operations, saying without it, they may shut down completely as a result of low-income generation and depleted revenues, due to the current economic downturn, exacerbated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic Chairman of …
Read More »Federal Government Making Efforts to Bailout Ailing Media, Says Information Minister
The Federal Government says it is exploring models of financial support to the media as part of its ongoing efforts to help the Nigerian media industry fulfil its functions and to ensure the survival of the industry during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. …
Read More »UNDP, Hackster Launch Global Innovation Challenge to Tackle COVID-19
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Hackster.io have launched the COVID-19 Detect and Protect Challenge to create open-source technology that developing countries can leverage in the fight against the COVID-19 global pandemic The COVID-19 Detect and Protect Challenge is an opportunity to find and apply the best and brightest …
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