Nigeria has been granted the hosting right of the 2018 World Congress of the International Press Institute (IPI).
Malam Garba Shehu, a member of the congress planning committee, made the disclosure on Saturday in Abuja in a statement issued to newsmen.
Shehu, who is also the SSA to the President on Media and Publicity, said the endorsement followed the successful bid by the Nigerian chapter of the IPI.
He said that Nigeria’s bid to host the congress was championed by Kabiru Yusuf, who chairs the Nigerian chapter of IPI and Malam Isma’ila Isa.
Yusuf is the publisher of the Daily Trust Newspapers while Isa is a long standing member of the world executive committee of IPI.
“In making a strong case for Nigeria to host the world congress, the Nigerian team showed 6 minutes video showcasing the rich social and cultural heritage of the country.
“The video also highlighted Nigeria’s outstanding values of media freedom, rich diversity and free flow of news.
“In a video message, former governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, himself one-time chairman of the global media body and the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed both called for support for Nigeria’s bid.