As the Nigeria’s media stakeholders join the global family to celebrate this year’s World Press Freedom Day,WPFD, the Media Transformative Group, MTG, has advocated a free and pluralistic media environment that would promote global peace and harmony.
This is contained in statement jointly signed by group’s Secretary, Prince Adejare Amuda and its Creative and Publicity Director, Mr. Stephen Adedigba,to commemorate this year’s WPFD, and made available to journalists in Ibadan.
According MTG, the global press freedom has suffered its steepest decline since 2012,as Journalists are facing unprecedented physical, legal, and digital threats, as reporters are routinely targeted.
Prince Amuda who is also the General Manager of i – flier FM, Ibadan and Mr. Adedigba,General Manager,Omoluabi FM,Ibadan in the statement revealed that,between January 2022 and September 2025, over 310 journalists were killed globally thereby making the work environment a threat to journalists and effective journalism.
It also added that the rise of biased algorithms and artificial intelligence is being weaponized to amplify hate speech and disinformation, and Fear of reprisal has forced over 60% of journalists into half – truth and self-censorship.
MTG under the leadership of its Chairman and General Manager of Pensioners’ FM, Dr. Babatunde Tiamiyu, expressed the fear that When truth is suppressed, democracy quietly suffers and negatively affect citizens welfare.
The Media Transformative Group (MTG) said it aligned with the global theme of “Shaping a Future at Peace”,saying true peace cannot be manufactured through propaganda or negotiated in silence.
“For us in MTG, true peace requires independent media to act as the ultimate watchdog for accountability, human rights, and transparency.” the group emphasised.
MTG therefore calls on all stakeholders to act on three important and urgent priorities namely, dismantle repressive laws, repeal statutes that criminalize speech and to stop using arbitrary detentions to silence investigations.
The Media Transformative Group,use the opportunity to demand social media platforms and regulatory bodies to curb online gender-based violence and targeted digital attacks against reporters.
MTG comprising of General Managers and Heads of some Radio stations in Oyo state with focus on effective Professional collaboration,staff training and revenue generation calls for international frameworks and community funding to secure the financial survival of public-interest journalism.
It concluded that a society without a free press can never speak truth to leaders or hold power accountable, calling on stakeholders to join MTG in defending those who on daily basis risk everything to bring facts to light.
