Nigerian Media Voice Rises on Global Stage as Lanre Arogundade Takes Key IFEX Leadership Roles

By Vivian Iwu 

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Arogundade

LAGOS, August 10, 2026 — Nigeria's voice in the global campaign for press freedom and freedom of expression has received a major boost with the election of Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), to two strategic leadership positions within the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX).

Arogundade has been elected Deputy Convenor of the 13-member IFEX Council and appointed a member of the network's Governance Committee, placing a prominent Nigerian media-rights advocate at the heart of an international coalition working to defend free expression, independent journalism and access to information.

His election to the IFEX Council was secured at the network's reconvened Annual General Meeting on July 16, 2026, before his new leadership responsibilities were unanimously approved at the inaugural meeting of the 2026–2029 Council on August 5.

He will serve alongside Layal Bahnam, Program Manager at the Maharat Foundation, who was appointed Convenor, and Ruth Kronenburg, Executive Director of Free Press Unlimited, who was appointed Treasurer.

Arogundade's new role comes at a particularly critical period for journalism worldwide, as journalists and media organisations confront increasing pressures ranging from censorship and intimidation to attacks on independent journalism, restrictions on civic space and growing threats to access to information.

As Deputy Convenor, Arogundade will support the Convenor in providing strategic leadership to the IFEX Council and assume key responsibilities in the Convenor's absence.

His duties will include chairing Council and members' meetings, convening committees where necessary, supporting implementation of Council decisions and encouraging active participation among members.

His additional appointment to the Governance Committee will give him a direct role in strengthening the network's institutional governance, effectiveness and strategic oversight.

The significance of the appointments was underscored by Mr. Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda, Chairman of the IPC Governing Board and a former IFEX Convenor and Council member.

Ojo described the development as particularly important at a time when the global media freedom environment is under growing pressure.

“At a time of growing threats to media freedom, these appointments will help reinforce the network's collective advocacy for press freedom and access to information.”

For Arogundade, however, the new positions represent less a personal achievement than an expanded responsibility.

He said the appointments would enable him to contribute to the strategic direction of a network whose collective voice, in his assessment, has become increasingly important in confronting threats to free expression.

He pledged to work with the new Convenor, fellow Council members and the wider IFEX membership to strengthen the network's impact and improve its collective response to threats against free speech, independent journalism and access to information.

Arogundade's elevation also brings Nigeria's media freedom experience into a global conversation.

The International Press Centre has been a member of IFEX since 2016 and operates within a network of more than 100 independent civil society organisations campaigning for free expression and journalists' rights.

Established in 1992, IFEX works through advocacy, research, policy engagement, emergency assistance and international solidarity.

The network also participates in international policy platforms focused on media freedom, digital rights and civic space.

For Nigeria, where debates over press freedom, journalist safety, access to public information and the shrinking civic space remain highly consequential, the emergence of a Nigerian media-rights advocate in IFEX's leadership could provide an important opportunity to bring the country's experiences and concerns more forcefully to the international table.

The bigger question now is what Arogundade and the new IFEX leadership can achieve at a time when defending the freedom to speak, publish, investigate and question those in power has become increasingly difficult across the world.

His tenure on the 2026–2029 Council will provide an opportunity not only to represent Nigeria's media freedom experience, but also to help shape the global response to the challenges confronting journalism in the digital age.