By Joseph Edegbo
In recognition of the Supreme Sacrifice he paid during the reign of General Sani Abacha for democracy to thrive, an investigative journalist, Bagauda Kaltho of blessed memory, will be honoured with a memorial lecture by the Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF).
With a theme “Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation”, the maiden Lecture is part of the 2019 World Press Freedom Day Celebrations and will hold on May 3 in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria.
Abacha’s regime was seen as the most terrible military tyranny in Nigerian history, during which the media became endangered, resulting in the murder of some journalists and mysterious disappearance of Bagauda Kaltho, among others.
Media houses including THE NEWS magazine, which Bagauda served last, as its Correspondent in Kaduna were shut.
Also shut were Punch and The Guardian along with the atrocities suffered by journalists during the regime, while other pro-democracy activists fled the country.
Organiser of the lecture, AMDF, is a media development initiative in Nigeria, established to provide professional support to journalists, and promote development journalism in Africa in its drive to promote better practice.
It recently created a press freedom desk and a website (Press Freedom Africa) that torchlight press freedom in Africa.
This event will be observed around the World Press Freedom Day, with focus on journalism practice; its role in shaping democracy, and press freedom in Africa.
A statement made available to AFRICA PRIME NEWS says “AMDF believes the event will not only immortalise Bagauda Kaltho, a Nigerian investigative journalist who died in the line of duty, but will serve as compendium and assist media professionals in finding bearing, as well as contribute to the body of knowledge in Africa.”
The meeting, it emphasised, is open to all journalists, human right, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and all who wish to partner for the course of press freedom in Africa.
