IFEX Elects IPC Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade, to Its Global Council
The International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), a global network of more than 100 independent organisations dedicated to defending freedom of expression and access to information, has...
The International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), a global network of more than 100 independent organisations dedicated to defending freedom of expression and access to information, has announced the election of Mr Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), to its 2026–2029 Council.
Arogundade was elected with 12 other media freedom and human rights leaders after IFEX concluded its governance process at a reconvened Annual Meeting in July.
The IFEX Secretariat announced the development in a message to members after the network’s Annual and General Meetings on June 25, where members reviewed the 2025 financial statements, approved auditors for the 2026 financial year, adopted amendments to IFEX By-Law No. 1, and reconvened to complete the Council election process.
The IFEX Secretariat welcomed the newly elected Council, praised the members who took part in the elections, and recognised the commitment of all candidates who offered to serve.
“We would like to thank everyone who submitted their candidacy.” Your willingness to engage in IFEX’s governance is commendable and should not go unrecognised,” the Secretariat said.
The Secretariat also commended the outgoing Council for guiding IFEX through global challenges while keeping the network committed to defending freedom of expression and access to information.
Recognition of Distinguished Press Freedom Leadership
Arogundade’s election marks another milestone in his more than three decades of advocacy for press freedom, media development, and democratic governance.
As Executive Director of the International Press Centre, he has led several initiatives to strengthen independent journalism, promote ethical media practice, and improve journalists’ capacity to report on governance, elections, human rights, and development issues.
Under his leadership, IPC has grown into one of Nigeria’s foremost media development organisations, running programmes that promote professional election reporting, counter misinformation and disinformation, strengthen journalists’ safety, advance media and information literacy, and support issue-based reporting that deepens democratic accountability.
IPC has also partnered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society groups, media professional bodies, and international development partners on projects aimed at improving election coverage, promoting peaceful electoral processes, and strengthening citizens’ access to credible information.
Arogundade has consistently condemned attacks on journalists and media organisations, calling for stronger legal protections for press freedom and full enforcement of constitutional and international guarantees on freedom of expression. He has also advocated reforms on digital rights, access to information, media regulation, and the protection of civic space in Nigeria.
His work has been recognised in regional and international media freedom circles, where he continues to promote collaborative responses to emerging threats to journalism in the digital age.
Arogundade is also the Editor-in-Chief of Nigerian Democratic Report, a specialised online publication that promotes democratic governance, accountability, electoral integrity, transparency, and citizen participation through factual, evidence-based journalism.
The newly constituted IFEX Council brings together leaders from organisations across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and the Caribbean working to protect press freedom, digital rights and freedom of expression.
Other members elected to serve on the 2026–2029 Council are Sana Ali of Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF); Shireen Al-Khatib of the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA); Yara Bader of the Syrian Center for Media and Free Expression (SCM); Layal Bahnam of Maharat Foundation; Nighat Dad of the Digital Rights Foundation (DRF); Ashnah Kalemera of the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA); Leticia Kleim of the Brazilian Association for Investigative Journalism (ABRAJI); Ruth Kronenberg of Free Press Unlimited (FPU); Ayaa Irene Lokang of the Association for Media and Development in South Sudan (AMDISS); Kiran Maharaj of the Trinidad and Tobago Publishers and Broadcasters Association (TTPBA); Babette Ngene of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF); and Ahmad Quraishi of the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC).
According to the IFEX Secretariat, the network has joined the Advisory Network of the Freedom Online Coalition, complementing its existing participation in the Media Freedom Coalition’s Consultative Network. The move is expected to provide additional opportunities for members to contribute to global policy discussions on freedom of expression and digital rights.
The organisation further disclosed that it has adopted a new membership strategy approved by the previous Council, with limited membership applications expected to reopen in the fall of 2026.
Reacting to his election, Mr Arogundade thanked IFEX for the recognition, saying it affirmed support for both him and IPC’s work.
“This is an honour for IPC as an institution, given that IFEX represents 115 member organisations worldwide in addition to its secretariat. About 130 members voted in the election for the 13-member council. We reached out to organisations across the world to share our work, and this outcome shows the support we received,” he said.
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