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Weekly Debates on
FOI Airing on Lagos Television
LAGOS, Sunday, December 04, 2005: A weekly television discussion
programme aimed at highlighting the importance of the Freedom of
Information to various sectors of the Nigerian society went on air last
week on Lagos Television (LTV). Titled “Freedom of Information and You”,
the programme will run for every Wednesday, between 5.30 pm and 6.00 pm
for 10 weeks.
The programme is sponsored by Media Rights Agenda (MRA) with funding from
the European Commission (EC).
Prominent media practitioners, human rights activists, academics and other
professionals will serve as discussants in different editions of the
programme. They include Mr. Odia Ofeimun, a poet, journalist and former
President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA); Mr. Ayo Olukotun,
a lecturer at the Department of Political Science of the University of
Lagos; Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi, Project Director for Freedom House/Nigeria;
Mr. Kayode Komolafe, Deputy Managing Director of ThisDay newspapers; and
Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Coordinator of the International Press Center (IPC).
Others are Mr. Jiti Ogunye, a lawyer and Executive Director of Lawyers for
Human Rights (LHR); Mr. Nurudeen Ogbara, a lawyer and Director of Citizens
Center; Mrs Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Executive Director of Women Advocates
Research and Documentation Center (WARDC); Mrs. Josephine Effah-Chukwuma,
Executive Director of Project Alert on Violence Against Women; Ms Lilian
Ekeanyanwu, the National Coordinator of the Zero Corruption Coalition (ZCC);
and Mr. Adewale Adeoye, Executive Director of Journalists for Democratic
Rights (JODER).
The discussants will cover issues such as how a regime of Freedom of
Information in Nigeria can help to deepen Nigeria’s democracy; raise
standards in academic research, assist in the management and resolution of
conflicts, including agitations for self determination and resource
control; and contribute to the campaign for gender equity in Nigeria. The
discussions will also explore how an FOI law can institute and sustain a
regime of transparency and accountability in Nigeria; improve Nigeria’s
business environment and economic fortunes; assist in the effective
protection of human rights; and make the fight against corruption more
effective.
The programme will also discuss the benefits of an FOI law to artisans,
farmers, traders as well as others in the informal sectors of the
economy.
The programme will be replicated in television stations in the North and
South East early next year.
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