The welfare of journalists and security will top the agenda when delegates converge on Abuja for the 8th Congress of the West African Journalists Association.
The President of the association, Malam Mohammed Garba, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday.
Garba, who is also the President of Federation of African Journalists, said over 30 delegates and resource persons were expected at the congress scheduled between April 25 and 26.
The WAJA president, who is also the President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, said the association was concerned about insecurity and other issues affecting journalism practice in the sub-region.
He said: “We are concerned about the growing cases of insecurity and also those challenges that are hampering the smooth journalism practice in the sub-region.
“The issue of media freedom in the sub-region will also feature prominently in our discussions at the congress.
“The theme of the congress, which is: ‘Strengthening media for peace, security and democratic governance in West Africa,’ says all about what our discussions at the meeting will be.”
Garba said keynote addresses at the meeting would be delivered by representatives of UNICEF, the International Federation of Journalists, ECOWAS and African Capacity Building Foundation amongst others.
He explained that new executives of the West African body would be elected while delegates would be expected to ratify the reviewed WAJA constitution.
Garba said Nigeria would not field any candidate for the position of president in the forthcoming election into the association’s executive council.
According to the president, candidates from four countries – Liberia, Togo, Guinea and Senegal – have indicated interest to run for the position of WAJA president.
He said that arrangements for the hosting of the congress had been concluded while some delegates had arrived in the country for the meeting.
Garba assured all journalists in the sub-region of the association’s commitment to their welfare, saying that resolutions reached at the end of the meeting would be sent to WAJA member countries.
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