Freedom of Information

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IPC, MRA Invite Nigerians to Vote for Most Responsive Public Institution in National FOI Awards

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Press Statement IPC, MRA Invite Nigerians to Vote for Most Responsive Public Institution in National FOI Awards FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Lagos, Monday, November 29, 2021: The International Press Centre (IPC) and Media Rights Agenda (MRA) are inviting Nigerians from all works of life to vote for the public institution adjudged to be most responsive to requests for information from members of the public under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and that has adopted innovative and access-friendly practices and procedures to ensure the public’s right of access to information in the country. The online voting exercise, which begins today and closes at midnight on Sunday, December 5, 2021, is the final selection process for the conferment of a “Public Institution FOI Best Practice Recognition” Award under the Public Institutions Category in the National Freedom of Information Awards initiated by the two organizations as part of activities to commemorate the 10th year anniversary of the FOI Act. The FOI Bill was signed into Law by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 after about 12 years of advocacy for its enactment. The FOI Awards, which are designed to recognise and reward individuals, organisations and public institutions that have made significant contributions towards the advancement of the right to information in Nigeria as well as in ensuring the effective implementation of the FOI Act since its inception in 2011, are organised with support from the European Union through component 4b: Support to Media of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Project. In addition to a National FOI Essay Competition for mass communication and journalism undergraduates of Nigerian tertiary institutions, which is aimed at encouraging mass communication and journalism students to examine the impact of the FOI Act in enhancing participatory democracy under the topic: “Deepening Democracy, the Impact of FOI Act 10 Years After”, FOI Awards will also be given in four categories at an award ceremony taking place in Abuja on this year’s International Human Rights Day, Friday, 10 December, 2021 as follows: The Individual Category, to honour an individual that has made the highest number of requests for information under the FOI Act to public institutions or private entities to which the Act applies, between May 29, 2015 and October 31, 2021; The Organisational Category, to honour a news organisation, any other type of organisation, company, association, institution, group, or other types of corporate entity that has made the highest number of requests for information under the FOI Act to public institutions or private entities to which the Act applies, between May 29, 2015 and October 31, 2021; The Public Institutions Category, a Public Institution FOI Best Practice Recognition Award, to be conferred on a public institution adjudged to be most responsive to requests for information from members of the public under the FOI Act and that has adopted innovative and access-friendly practices and procedures to ensure the public right of access to information in Nigeria; and A Special Recognition Award, to be given to an individual adjudged to have made a substantial and lasting contribution towards advancing the right to information in Nigeria over the last 10 years. The entities short-listed for online voting for the Public Institution FOI Best Practice Recognition Award are the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), the Federal Ministry of Justice (FMOJ), the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC). IPC’s Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, explained the rationale for the public voting saying: “We have decided to open up the process of selecting a winner in the Public Institutions Category to the Nigerian public because we believe that members of the public who have a right of access to information under the FOI Act should be the ultimate deciders, based on their personal experiences or from the information available to them, of how well each of the public institutions at the top of our performance indicators have done in providing information to the public and in the general implementation of the Act.” Members of the public can indicate their choice of public institutions for the Award in this category by voting at: https://bit.ly/311auJc For further information, please contact: Olutoyin Ayoade (Ms)Communications Officer, International Press Centre (IPC)E-mail: tayoade@ipcng.org OR Idowu Adewale (Mr.)Communications Officer, Media Rights Agenda (MRA)E-mail: idowu@mediarightsagenda.org

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CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST : PANEL OF JUDGES FOR NATIONAL FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (FOI) AWARDS

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Date of issue: October 29, 2021 The International Press Centre (IPC) and Media Rights Agenda (MRA) are inviting entries from individuals to serve as judges for their 2021 National Freedom of Information (FOI) Awards. The Awards are part of activities to commemorate the 10th year anniversary of the signing of the Freedom of Information Bill into Law by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 and are being organized with support from the European Union through component 4b: Support to Media of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Project. The Awards will recognise and reward individuals, organisations, and public institutions that have made significant contributions towards the advancement of the right to information in Nigeria as well as in ensuring the effective implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011. The selected judges will be required to assess entries for a prize award to be given to the best FOI essays from among undergraduate students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Duration of EngagementNovember 15 to December 15, 2021 (1month) Location of ActivitiesThe activities under the engagement will be done in Nigeria. Judges should be available for meetings with the organizers at intervals, which will be communicated ahead of time. ObjectiveThe objective of this call for expression of interest is to set up a panel of two (2) FOI experts who will function as judges and collaborate with the organisers to evaluate, grade, and decide the winners of the essay competition. The judges are expected to draw on their FOI expertise to assess the entries fairly and reasonably. The taskThe judges will assess essay entries from the tertiary institutions on the essays titled “Deepening Democracy, the Impact of FOI Act 10 Years After” as received from students of Mass Communication and Journalism and decide the winner, the first runner-up and the second runner-up. Key Requirements Good knowledge of the Freedom of Information Law (FOI) Act, 2011, as well as an understanding of the practical implications for organizations of the legal requirements including how to manage an FOI request from inception to completion in Nigeria. Ability to assess undergraduate students essays for originality, creativity, and knowledge. Relevant academic and professional experience. Information and documents to be providedCandidates should express interest by sending a cover letter indicating their interest in being considered for the engagement and CV to: foientries@ipcng.org RenumerationThe organizers will pay in accordance with the approved rates of the European Union under the EU-SDGN project grant. Application deadlineTwo weeks from the date of this call

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IPC DECRIES ATTACK ON JOURNALISTS AND #ENDSARS ACTIVISTS AT ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY PROTESTS

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October 20, 2021 Press Release IPC DECRIES ATTACK ON JOURNALISTS AND #ENDSARS ACTIVISTS AT ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY PROTESTS For immediate release, Wednesday October 20, 2021The International Press Centre (IPC) condemns in strong terms, the attacks on several journalists who were on legitimate duty to cover the #ENDSARs one-year anniversary protests in Lagos and other parts of the country today, Wednesday October 20, 2021. Reports from the IPC’ situation room on ‘Media Coverage of One Year After the #EndSars Protest’ reveal that Legit.ng Online reporter, Abisola Alawode was arrested at the Lekki Toll Plaza while PM News correspondent, Taiwo Okanlawon and the Arise TV crew of Adefemi Akinsanya and Ope Adenihun were beaten and harassed at the same venue. The Arise TV crew were also illegally ordered to pull down the drone they were using to cover the event. Policemen also barred The Punch Newspaper correspondent, Adebimpe Olajiga, from covering the protest and in Osogbo, Daily Post correspondent, Sikiru Obarayase, was arrested during the anniversary match in the state capital. The attacks on the journalists mark an unfortunate and condemnable repeat of the assault on the media during the #EndSars protests in October last year. ‘It is highly regrettable the security agencies continue to fail to recognise journalists as frontline workers during crisis situations”, Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said in a statement. According to Mr. Arogundade the actions of the policemen pose major threat to the ability of the media to serve as societal watchdog and hold government accountable to the people. Mr. Arogundade said it was equally wrong for the Police to arrest and detain the #EndSars protesters describing the action as a clear violation of the right to peacefully assemble and protest. “The combined effect of the repression of the journalists, media professionals and #EndSars activists is that the democratic space is being undermined by the government through the security agencies”, he added. IPC therefore calls for a halt to the assault on democratic rights of Nigerian citizens and demands that those responsible for Wednesday’s attacks should be fished out and prosecuted. SGD:Olutoyin AyoadeCommunications Officer, IPCtayoade@ipcng.org

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Call for ENTRIES Freedom of Information (FOI) National Essay Competition

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Call for ENTRIESFreedom of Information (FOI) National Essay CompetitionTheme: Deepening democracy, the Impact of FOI Act ten years after The International Press Centre (IPC) and Media Rights Agenda (MRA) hereby invite entries for their 2021 National Freedom of Information Essay Competition for mass communication and journalism undergraduates of Nigerian tertiary institutions.The topic of the essay is “Deepening democracy, the Impact of FOI Act ten years after.” The competition, which is part of activities to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Freedom of Information Bill into Law by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, is organized with support from the European Union through component 4b: Support to Media of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Project. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND GUIDELINES FOR THE COMPETITION Entries will only be accepted from undergraduate students of Mass Communication or Journalism of any tertiary institution in Nigeria, public or private, and must be accompanied by a fully legible copy of the Student’s Identity Card of the person submitting the entry. All entries should include the full names of the student, the name and address of the university as well as the student’s course of study and department. It should also contain the student’s telephone number and email address as well as the student’s Matriculation Number. All entries should be between 800 and 1,000 words in length and should be type-written on Microsoft Word using Times New Roman font, 14 points. Each entry will be judged on compliance with these technical specifications as well as on the richness of content, the quality of the spelling and grammar, the logic in the structure of presentation and how compelling the arguments are. All entries will be checked for plagiarism and originality. Any entry found to have plagiarized another person’s work will be disqualified. SUBMISSION OF ENTRIESEntries should be sent by email to: foientries@ipcng.org with “National Freedom of Information Essay Competition” on the Subject line. DEADLINE The extended deadline for the submission of entries is October 31, 2021. Entries must be received no later than 12.00 midnight (WAT) on that date. All entries received will be assessed by a panel of independent judges. Prizes will be awarded to the winning entry and the First Runner-Up. All entries received for the competition would be rewarded with a set of publications by the two organizations even if their entries are not selected for the ultimate prize. The Winner and First Runner-Up will be invited to an award ceremony, which will take place in Abuja on Friday, December 10, 2021. For enquiries or further information, please send an email to: admin@ipcng.org

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IPC, MRA Set New Deadline for FOI Essay Competition Entries, Expand Eligibility Criteria

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Lagos, Wednesday, October 13, 2021: The International Press Centre (IPC) and Media Rights Agenda (MRA) today announced an extension of the deadline for the submission of entries for their National Freedom of Information (FOI) Essay Competition to October 31, 2021. They also announced the expansion of the eligibility criteria to accommodate undergraduates of Mass Communication and Journalism in all tertiary institutions in Nigeria, including monotechnics, polytechnics and universities. In a statement issued in Lagos by Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of IPC, and his MRA counterpart, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, the organisations said the extension of the deadline for the submission of entries and the expansion of the eligibility criteria were informed by the need to give more time to eligible persons who were not able to meet the earlier deadline to submit their entries and therefore allow more students to participate in a crucially important activity touching on an issue that has the potential to significantly impact the lives of all Nigerians. They also announced that every eligible student who submits an entry for the competition would be rewarded with a set of publications by the two organizations even if their entries are not selected for the ultimate prize. The initial call issued by the organisations on September 15, 2021 for the submission of entries for the essay competition as part of activities to commemorate the 10th year anniversary of the signing of the FOI Bill into Law by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, had limited eligibility to undergraduates of Mass Communications or Journalism in Nigerian universities. According to the organisations, the competition is aimed at encouraging mass communication and journalism undergraduates to examine the impact of the FOI Act in enhancing participatory democracy under the topic: “Deepening Democracy, the Impact of FOI Act 10 Years After.” The winners of the competition will be announced and honoured at a National Freedom of Information Awards ceremony, which is scheduled to take place in Abuja on this year’s International Human Rights Day, on Friday, 10 December, 2021. The competition is organized with support from the European Union through component 4b: Support to Media of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Project. For further information, please contact: Olutoyin Ayoade (Ms)Communications Officer, International Press Centre (IPC)E-mail: tayoade@ipcng.org OR Idowu Adewale (Mr.)Communications Officer, Media Rights Agenda (MRA)E-mail: idowu@mediarightsagenda.org

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IPC, MRA Issue Call for Entries for National FOI Awards to Honour Individuals, Organizations Advancing Right to Information

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The International Press Centre (IPC) and Media Rights Agenda (MRA) hereby invite entries from individuals and organizations in Nigeria for their 2021 National Freedom of Information (FOI) Awards. The Awards form are part of activities to commemorate the 10th year anniversary of the signing of the Freedom of Information Bill into Law by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 and are being organized with support from the European Union through component 4b: Support to Media of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Project. The Awards will recognize and reward individuals, organizations and public institutions that have made significant contributions towards the advancement of the right to information in Nigeria as well as in ensuring the effective implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011. There will be four categories of awards as follows: a) Individual Category: An individual that has made the highest number of requests for information under the FOI Act to public institutions or private entities to which the Act applies, between May 29, 2015 and October 31, 2021. b) Organizational Category: A news organization, any other type of organization, company, association, institution, group, or other types of corporate entity that has made the highest number of requests for information under the FOI Act to public institutions or private entities to which the Act applies, between May 29, 2015 and October 31, 2021. c) Public Institutions Category: A Public Institution FOI Best Practice Recognition will be conferred on a public institution adjudged by the organizers and the panel of judges to be most responsive to requests for information from members of the public under the FOI Act and that has adopted innovative and access-friendly practices and procedures to ensure public right of access to information in Nigeria. d) Special Recognition: A special recognition Award will be given to an individual adjudged by the organizers and the panel of judges to have made a substantial and lasting contribution towards advancing the right to information in Nigeria over the last 10 years. GUIDELINES FOR ENTRIES Individuals CategoryIndividuals who wish to participate in this category should send scanned acknowledged copies of their FOI requests or other proof of the FOI requests that they made between 29 May, 2015 and 31 October, 2021 to the organisers. The person adjudged to have made the highest number of requests will be identified and honoured at an FOI Award ceremony to be held in Abuja later this year. A copy of every FOI request made which the individual entering for the awards seeks to be included in his or her FOI requests count must include or contain proof of delivery of the request,such as acknowledgment of receipt of the request by the public institution or other entity to which it was made or proof of delivery by a reputable courier company, etc. Organizational CategoryAny news organization, other type of organization, company, association, institution, group, or any other type of corporate entity that wishes to participate in this category should send scanned copies of acknowledged FOI requests or other proof of the FOI requests that they made between 29 May, 2015 to 31 October, 2021 to the organisers. The entity adjudged to have made the highest number of requests will be identified and honoured at an FOI Award ceremony to be held in Abuja later this year. A copy of every FOI request made which the entity entering for the awards seeks to be included in its FOI requests count must be made on the entity’s official letter-headed paper and must include or contain proof of delivery of the request, such as acknowledgment of receipt of the request by the public institution or other entity to which it was made or proof of delivery by a reputable courier company, etc. Entries should be sent by email to: foientries@ipcng.org with “National Freedom of Information Awards (Organizational)” or “National Freedom of Information Awards (Individual)”, as the case may be, on the Subject line. The deadline for submission of entries is Sunday, 31 October, 2021. Entries must be received no later than 12.00 midnight (WAT) on that date. All entries received will be assessed by a panel of independent judges. Prizes will be awarded to the winning entry and the First Runner-Up in each of the categories. The winner and the First Runner-Up will be invited, with their travel expenses paid, if necessary, to an award ceremony, which will take place in Abuja on Friday, December 10, 2021. The winner in the Public Institutions category, that is a public institution adjudged to be the most responsive to requests for information from members of the public under the FOI Act and that has adopted innovative and access-friendly practices and procedures to ensure public right of access to information in Nigeria, along with the First Runner-Up in this category, will also be recognized and honoured at the award ceremony. No entries are required for this category. During the Award ceremony, a special recognition Award will also be conferred on an individual adjudged to have made a substantial and lasting contribution towards advancing the right to information in Nigeria over the last 10 years. No entries are required for this category. For enquiries or further information, please send an email to: admin@ipcng.org.

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