Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche, Chairman, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) was on Federal Radio Corporation (FRCN) Wednesday morning to inform, educate and sensitize Nigerians on World Press Freedom Day. It was meant to wet the ground for a robust discussion later in the day.

At noon, the Council in collaboration with the Greenland news magazine organised a lecture and awards ceremony. It was a day dedicated to celebrate the press and draw attention to press freedom. For this year’s World Press Freedom Day 2023 had the theme: ” shaping a future of Rights- Freedom of Expression as a Driver for all other human rights”.

But very few journalists turned up for the ceremony. The few that came were shuttling between the venue and the cafeteria and bar. Very few paid attention while others looked for those they could interview to build their stories, so ,there was perpetual movement in and out of the venue.

But, that did not diminish the quality of a paper presented by Prof. Isaac Sammani R. Butswat, Deputy Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) who delivered this year’s lecture a lecture to mark this year’s World Press Freedom Day warned that countries should improve on their press freedom warning that without it, no country can eliminate poverty and hunger, preserve biodiversity and promote sustainable development, or build transparent
institutions.

“Free flow of information and press freedom are indispensable in the fight for the rights of minorities and marginalized people to combat all kinds of discrimination, to build diverse and inclusive civic spaces and to uphold resilient democracies.

According to him, freedom of expression is an important human right which is essential for a society to be democratic stressing that it enables the free exchange of ideas, opinions and information and thus allows members of society to form their own opinions on issues of public importance.

He, however, observed that safety of journalists and freedom of expression are increasingly under attack, which impacts the realization of other human rights. “The right to freedom of expression, enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a prerequisite and a driver to the enjoyment of all other human rights.

Specifically, he said freedom of expression is an important human right which is essential for a society to be democratic stressing that it enables the free exchange of ideas, opinions and information and thus allows members of the society to form their own opinions on issues of public importance. Freedom of expression helps us grow as individuals.

Prof. Butswat noted that limitations of Freedom of Expression; Freedom of expression is balanced in societies in order to protect other values such as public order, justice and the personal rights of others. He said the right to freedom of expression may also be limited in the interest of national security, public order, safety, health and morals stressing that this year’s World Press Freedom Day which is its 30th and by its theme, can be said to be a call to re-center press freedom, as well as independent, pluralistic and diverse media as primary and essential key to enjoyment of all other human rights.

His words: “It is an opportunity to put a strong focus on freedom of expression within the overall human rights agenda adding that: “Freedom of Expression; a driver of other freedoms and human rights: Four fundamental freedoms are outlined in the preamble of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights; freedom of speech, freedom of belief, freedom from fear, and freedom from want . It is not incidental that freedom of speech comes first; this fundamental freedom is one that enables all others.

“As we mark this day, let us remember that it is also for us to take stock of the challenges facing media freedom and the safety of journalists; to raise awareness and foster partnerships to defend media from attacks; as well as to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their work.

“Press freedom as a keystone of freedom of expression’s enabling role:
It is clear that the right to freedom of expression and its corollary, the right to access information, allow us to seek, receive and impart information, ideas, concepts and beliefs across borders and cultures. In this exercise the media and journalists play an essential role; they help verify and disseminate facts, they create spaces for ideas to be debated and for the voiceless to be heard, and
they render complex matters intelligible for the public at large,” he stressed.

The university don said without a free flow of information and the help of the media in this effort, most cases of
malpractice, corruption and human rights violations would remain hidden stressing that without collective
awareness of these violations, we would not be able to act to address them.

“The free flow of information and press freedom are necessary preconditions for the realization of the sustainable Development Goals of Agenda 2030.
All counties should improve on their press freedom as without it, no country can eliminate poverty and hunger, preserve biodiversity and promote sustainable development, or build transparent institutions.

“Free flow of information and press freedom are indispensable in the fight for the rights of minorities and marginalized people to combat all kinds of discrimination, to build diverse and
inclusive civic spaces and to uphold resilient democracies, he said.

Ambassador (Mrs) Peace Ofeoshi, Editor-in-Chief of GreenLand News Magazine said Press Freedom Day serves as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics.

Her words: “Reflecting this reality, this year’s title of the conference is ‘Shaping a future of Rights – Freedom of Expression as a Driver for all other Human Rights’ signifying the enabling element of Freedom of Expression to enjoy and protect all other Human Rights.”

“The right to freedom of expression and its corollary, the right to access information, allow Press to seek, receive and impart information, ideas, concepts and beliefs across borders and cultures. And in this exercise, the media and journalists play an essential role: they help verify and disseminate facts, they create spaces for ideas to be debated and for the voiceless to be heard, and they render complex matters intelligibly for the public at large.

The Publisher who said that attempts to silence the media continue to multiply around the globe, with old methods of censorship, violence and harassment noted that the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos condemned attacks on journalists while covering the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections in Lagos and Rivers States. In a Press statement, IPC decried the incidents of attacks as “unacceptable attacks which constitute both the violation of the fundamental rights of the affected journalists and media workers and major assault on Press freedom”.

In his contribution, Comrade Ogbeche said every other right flows from freedom of Expression and information and condemned several abuses and killing of media practitioners in the country.