Press Freedom: NUJ Calls for Safety, Improved Welfare to Secure Peace

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), South West Zone, has called for greater protection of journalists and improved welfare for media practitioners as essential steps toward sustaining peace, democracy, and national development.

In a statement issued to commemorate World Press Freedom Day 2026, the Vice President of NUJ Zone B, Comrade Ronke Afebioye-Samo, joined the global media community in marking the annual observance themed, “Shaping a Future of Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development and Security.”

The global conference for this year’s event is being organized by UNESCO in partnership with the Government of Zambia, and is scheduled to hold from May 4 to 5, 2026, in Lusaka.

Afebioye-Samo described World Press Freedom Day as a reminder that peace is built on truth, accountability, and the free flow of information.

She noted that the day, proclaimed by the United Nations in 1993, celebrates the principles of press freedom, evaluates its state worldwide, defends media independence, and honors journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

She further emphasized that the observance reinforces Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees every individual the right to seek.

The NUJ Vice President condemned the continued harassment and physical attacks on journalists covering elections, protests, and communal crises in the South West.

She urged security agencies and state governments to investigate and prosecute attacks on media workers.

On emerging technologies, Afebioye-Samo noted that while artificial intelligence offers tools for faster reporting and fact-checking, it also accelerates disinformation and deepfakes capable of threatening social stability. She disclosed that NUJ South West would prioritize AI literacy for its members this year, while urging tech platforms to be transparent in content moderation.