Mojeed Musikilu, Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times has emerged the unopposed president of the Nigerian chapter of the International Press Institute (IPI).

IPI is a global media body that comprises media executives, editors and leading journalists with the aim of defending press freedom whenever and wherever threatened.

Mr Mojeed became IPI’s new president at the institute’s general assembly held on Thursday in Abuja. Participants attended physically and virtually.

Ahmed Shekarau, an executive at Daily Trust Newspaper, also emerged the secretary to the journalists’ rights body.

Reacting to his new position, Mr Mojeed promised to implement measures that would strengthen the collective voice of journalists to ensure free flow of news when threatened.

“We will also work at deepening collaboration with newsrooms and other organisations in the defence of press freedom in Nigeria and elsewhere,” he said.

“We will implement measures and programmes that will make ours a stronger voice as we firmly stand up for media freedom, freedom of speech and the free flow of news and information whenever, wherever and however they are threatened.”

He further said: “Our team will also take a holistic look at the key issues confronting our newsrooms today and undermining press freedom one way and another. The issues include those concerning ethics, regulation, sustainability, credibility, and fake news.”

A former winner of the Wole Soyinka Investigative Reporting Award and FAIR’s Editor’s Courage Award, Mr Mojeed is a decorated journalist with good years to show in the pen pushing profession.