The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) has announced that the 17th edition of its annual Media Lecture Series will hold on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at 5:00pm (WAT) via Zoom.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that this year’s lecture is themed “Surveillance, Safety and the Silencing of Truth” and will spotlight the growing threats faced by journalists globally.
Angela Quintal, the Africa Program Director at the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), is billed to deliver the keynote address. She will be joined by a panel of seasoned media professionals including Quinn McKew, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19; Fisayo Soyombo, Founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ); and Sonja Smith, a correspondent with the Associated Press. The discussion will be moderated by Jimeh Saleh, former editor of the BBC/MacArthur Foundation investigative series.
According to the Executive Director and CEO of WSCIJ, Motunrayo Alaka, the 2025 edition of the lecture aims to draw attention to the complex intersection of surveillance, intimidation, and shrinking civic space in journalism.
“This year’s theme is particularly urgent,” Alaka said. “Surveillance, safety, and the silencing of truth are no longer distant concerns—they are realities many journalists face across the world, and especially in Africa. We need to interrogate how technologies and institutions are increasingly being weaponised to stifle free speech.”
She explained that the lecture will explore how sophisticated digital surveillance tools, government crackdowns, and institutionalised harassment are threatening not just press freedom but also the public’s right to know.
“The safety of journalists is tied to the health of any democracy. When we silence journalists, we dim the light on accountability and transparency,” Alaka added.
Held annually on July 13 to mark the birthday of Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, the WSCIJ Media Lecture Series has, since 2009, served as a platform to reflect on the media’s role in advancing democracy and good governance.
“This lecture continues to be a key space for thought leaders, journalists, and the public to engage with the most pressing issues of our time,” Alaka noted. “It honours the ideals of Professor Wole Soyinka and our shared commitment to truth and justice.”
Interested participants are encouraged to register in advance to attend the virtual event.
