UNESCO Names NSCDC Commandant Odumosu Nigeria’s Journalist Safety Focal Point

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has appointed the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) FCT Commandant, Dr. Olusola Odumosu, as Nigeria’s National Focal Point for the project, “Monitoring and Reporting on the Safety of Journalists in Africa, with a Specific Focus on Gender.”

The appointment was disclosed in a statement issued by the FCT Command public relations officer, DSC Monica Ojobi.

According to the statement, the appointment followed Dr. Odumosu’s participation in a three-day regional training workshop held in Entebbe, Uganda, in November 2025. The workshop brought together 30 participants from Cameroon, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia, including journalists, civil society representatives, law enforcement officers and legal experts from the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU).

Participants reviewed an online observatory developed to monitor and track attacks against women journalists in Africa and made recommendations to strengthen its functionality and enhance coordination among key stakeholders.

The statement noted that the training was organised by the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) and funded by the Government of the Netherlands through UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC). It formed part of the second phase of the project, “Applying Modern Technologies to Enhance Mechanisms for Monitoring and Reporting Attacks Against Women Journalists in Africa.”

According to the statement, Dr. Odumosu’s responsibilities include receiving and reviewing reports of threats, harassment and attacks against women journalists in Nigeria and facilitating appropriate follow-up through designated national mechanisms. He will also help ensure that reported cases are promptly addressed by the relevant security agencies through official channels.

The statement added that the appointment positions Nigeria to strengthen its compliance with global frameworks on freedom of expression and the safety of media practitioners. It will also serve as the national coordinating link between UNESCO, government agencies, media organisations, civil society groups and security institutions on issues relating to attacks against journalists in the country.

Reacting to the appointment, Dr. Odumosu thanked the NSCDC Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, for approving his participation in the initiative. He also expressed gratitude to the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, for the confidence reposed in him, describing the appointment as both an honour and a call to duty at a time when the safety of journalists, particularly women, remains a critical concern in Nigeria and globally.

“I want to appreciate my amiable Commandant General for granting me the approval to undertake this noble task and the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa in Nairobi for this appointment. I shall do my best to justify this call to service.

“Journalism is a noble profession practised by noble men and women. I am confident that my engagement will enhance the effectiveness of this project in Nigeria and further reinforce collaboration among key institutions dedicated to the safety of women journalists across Africa,” he said.

He also pledged to work closely with the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen the protection and safety of women journalists in Nigeria and across Africa.