The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) held a virtual meeting on Thursday, 17 April 2025, to plan the 2024 edition of its Journalism and Civic Space Status Report. Participants included Professor Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Director of the Institute of Continuing Education, University of Lagos (UNILAG); Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Director, Media Career Development Network; Juliana Francis, Editor, Security News Alert; Osita Nwajah, former Director of Public Affairs at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Motunrayo Alaka, Executive Director/CEO of WSCIJ; and Olaoluwa Adeleye, Programme Officer at WSCIJ.
The sitting reviewed the last two editions — Hushed Voices and the Media’s Defence of the Civic Space (2022) and Hushed Voices in an Election Year (2024) as well as the data gathered for the latest edition of the report. The meeting served as a forum to assess developments in Nigeria’s civic space, particularly in relation to press freedom, public participation, and the rights of journalists. Attendees shared recommendations on areas requiring greater attention and agreed on a clear direction for the next report.
