thesisprojectsng

Historical records show that indigenous newspapers started from Western Nigeria, particularly Badagry, the headquarters of Iwe Irohin. Gradually, the nationalist consciousness spread to the East and North with the publication of many newspapers by easterners and northerners. Some of these newspapers contributed immensely to the actualisation of Nigeria as a nation.   Gaskiya Tafi Kwabo and Citizen These two newspapers belonged to the northern-based political party the  Northern Peoples’ Congress (NPC). They also emerged as rivals to the  Party newspapers established by the NCNC and Action Group.  Gaskiya Tafi kwabo an Hausa language newspaper was founded on 1st  January, 1939 by the Gaskiya Corporation which later added to its  stable, the Citizen, another weekly that (later) metamorphosed into the New Nigerian on 1st January, 1966. The New Nigerian was taken over  by the Federal Government alongside the Daily Times in 1975. The Northern Nigerian gover...

Most of the newspapers available during the colonial era were not published daily. There was a need to publish a newspaper that would inform the people of the daily events happening in the colonial era. The Daily Times was the answer to that challenge. The greater popularisation of the newspaper as a result of the political ferment of the early 20s and the significant expansion in advertisement patronage stimulated by post-war economy (that is after 1918) increased the attraction of the daily newspaper as a sound, commercial proposition. Some enthusiasm for daily newspapers was also provoked by Governor Clifford’s lament of the absence of such publications, in the country in his famous address to the Nigerian council in 1920. The absence of a daily press prevented the wide dissemination of news throughout the country which is customary in the West Indies, and which for example, is affected in Ceylon by the publication in Colombo of two morning and two evening newspapers on every weekda...

Nigeria Independence was made possible by nationalism. One of the men who fought seriously for the liberation of Nigeria from colonial influence and domination was Obafemi Awolowo. Though a lawyer politician, he made extensive use of the media to reposition the Western Nigeria. While Azikiwe dominated the Eastern press landscape, nationalist journalism in Western Nigeria found its champion in Obafemi Awolowo. In 1949, Awolowo established the Nigerian Tribune in Ibadan. Awolowo became the first premier of Western Nigeria in 1954 and, later, leader of opposition in the federal parliament. Chief Awolowo was the proprietor of the Nigerian Tribune, a newspaper, which became an important media organ of his political party.  This newspaper belonged to the Action Group party of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He was also the proprietor of the newspaper. He launched the newspaper on November 1949, through its publisher, the African Press Limited. The vernacular associate of the p...

The story of Nigerian newspapers cannot be told without situating it within the ferment of anti-colonial resistance, elite awakening and the struggle to redefine the African image in the early twentieth century. While earlier publications such as Iwe Irohin (1859) and the Lagos Weekly Record laid foundations for indigenous press activism, the nationalist press reached a new ideological intensity in the hands of Nnamdi Azikiwe popularly known as Zik. His newspaper, the West African Pilot, transformed journalism from cautious commentary into a weapon of political mobilisation.   Establishment of the West African Pilot The West African Pilot was established on 22 November 1937 in Lagos not 1973 as is sometimes mistakenly stated. The year 1937 is historically significant because it marked a period when nationalist sentiments were rising but lacked a coordinated media voice. Azikiwe had returned from the United States, where he studied at institutions such as Howard University and Li...

 Chapter II, Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Chapter II, Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that: “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people.”   Although this provision does not use the language of “rights” in the same way Section 39 does, it functions as an institutional guarantee of press freedom in several important ways. First, it constitutionally recognises the media as a democratic watchdog. By mandating that the press shall “uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government,” the Constitution assigns the media a monitoring and oversight role. This means the media is not merely permitted to criticise government; it is constitutionally expected to do so. A duty to hold government acco...

Media-specific regulations and international standards that support press freedom   Media-specific regulations and international standards that support press freedom operate at two levels: domestic legal frameworks that structure media practice within Nigeria, and international human rights instruments that establish normative standards binding on states. Together, they create a layered protection system which are constitutional, statutory, regulatory, and supranational.   At the domestic level in Nigeria, Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution provides the foundational guarantee for freedom of expression and the press. However, beyond this general protection, several media-specific regulations shape how press freedom is exercised. The Nigerian Press Council Act establishes the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), which is tasked with promoting high professional standards in journalism and handling complaints against the press. While originally conceived as a self-regulatory oversight...

The Meaning of Press Freedom Press freedom refers to the right of media organisations, journalists, and individuals to gather, report, and disseminate information without undue interference, censorship, or control by the government, political authorities, or other powerful institutions. It is a cornerstone of democracy, ensuring that citizens have access to information necessary for informed decision-making, holding public officials accountable, and fostering debate on societal issues. According to McQuail (2010), press freedom also implies the autonomy of the media to critique governments, expose corruption, and champion human rights. Press freedom, however, does not mean absolute freedom. Ethical journalism, accuracy, and responsibility are essential to prevent misinformation, defamation, and the abuse of this freedom. Difference Between Freedom of Expression and P ress Freedom Freedom of Expression Definition: Freedom of expression is the broader right of every individual to ...

Introduction This training note is designed to help students clearly understand the functions, systems, coverage and dysfunctions of the mass media, using relatable scenarios drawn from everyday Nigerian experiences. The aim is to move beyond memorisation and help students see how mass media actively shape society in practical and sometimes problematic ways. Functions of the Mass Media The mass media perform essential functions that societies have always needed. According to Harold Lasswell, the media extend social functions that existed long before modern technology. Whether the effects are positive or negative, the media operate within the social system and influence how people see the world, respond to events and relate to one another. Surveillance of the environment. One of the most fundamental functions of the mass media is surveillance of the environment. Through news reports, documentaries and special bulletins, the media monitor events and conditions in society and report them ...