The history of nigeria can be traced back to as early as 11,000 bc when a number of ancient african communities inhabited the area that now makes nigeria. Lets find out how the printed press developed in nigeria. Nigeria contains more historic cultures and empires than any other other nation in africa. Unlike most of subsaharan africa, nigeria has a long history of an independent press. Henry townsend established the first printing press in 1854.
Sometimes, these objectives define the genre of books some publishers publish while others, undertake general publishing without bias. Apr 27, 2018 the historical background and development of the nigerian press commenced with the printing media on 3 rd december 1859 by a christian missionary named reverend henrytownsend who established the first newspaper in nigeria called iwe iroyin fun awon egba ati yoruba which literary means a newspaper for the egba and yoruba 2 nations. Development and implications by lai oso abstract a central theme in the history of the nigeria press is its political orientation. Many agents of nigeria s press have been imprisoned, exiled, tortured, or murdered as a result, among them being ogoni activist and television producer ken sarowiwa, who was executed for treason by order of the sani abacha dictatorship in 1995 resulting in the expulsion of nigeria from the commonwealth of nations and sanctions from abroad. Normative theories were first proposed by fred siebert, theodore peterson and wilbur schramm in their book called four theories of the press. The history of nigeria before independence in order to understand the current nigerian politics and society, three dominant characteristics need to be taken into account. The newspaper was published every fifteen days and sold for 120 cowries, which is. Historical background and development of the nigeria press in the political arena the. A brief history of nigeria spainexchange country guide. The article is devoted to the history of print media origin in nigeria, which are represented from the first newspaper founded by the english missionaries to newspapers created by.
Truth and understanding, milton argued, are not such wares as to be monopolizd and traded in by. Most databases rely on press reports, meaning that casualty counts can be too high or, more likely, too low. History has it that the first edition of nigeria s first newspaper, iwe irohin, came out on november 23, 1859. There is a long standing history of press freedom in nigeria. Aside fighting to win democracy, the nigerian press has been at the forefront of sustaining nigerias nascent democracy. Its vision is to create a culture of ethical press in nigeria driven through research and documentation of contemporary press development. Carolina academic press 700 kent street durham, north carolina 27701. Press provided the most distinguished intellectual forum in nigeria history. At first the word normative theory was pronounced in usa during the height of cold war. Pdf the sailing of nigeria ship in politics from colonial era have been. Aside fighting to win democracy, the nigerian press has been at the forefront of sustaining nigeria s nascent democracy. Nigeria history, west african history, books barnes. History of mass media he was fearless in condemning the local custom of sati and the governments failure to put an end to it.
History and development of mass media in nigeria in. First, the spread of islam began a millennium ago, predominantly in the north but later on extended to southwestern nigeria. All these advantages of deregulation of the airways in nigeria have contributed immensely in improving the economy of the country. The private media houses in nigeria facilitate the growth and increase of webcasting. A history of nigeria by toyin falola cambridge core. In order to attain a measure of conceptual clarity.
From that time, publishing started growing in nigeria with different objectives for the business. These newsletters were used in passing along information about everything from wars and economic conditions to social. Behind this distribution of literacy in nigeria are historical and. Fhclcs 2499 challenging the constitutionality of the nigeria press council decree no. Nigeria joined the ranks of oil producers in 1958 when its first oil field came on stream producing 5,100 bpd. The nigerian mass media has a long and proud history of freedom, deriving in. I history and development of mass communications lauriethomas lee encyclopedia of life support systems eolss books are the oldest of the media, with the first known book written in egypt around 1400 b. The paper takes a historical approach by tracing the existence and development of the press gag laws to 1903. The greatest and the wellknown empire that ruled the region before the british arrived was the benin empire whose ruler was known as oba of benin. Nigeria during the abacha years 19931998 the nigerian press. He gave prominence to news and views from bengali and persian journals. First, the spread of islam, predominantly in the north but later in southwestern nigeria as well, began a. The article is devoted to the history of print media origin in nigeria, which are represented from the first newspaper founded by the english missionaries to newspapers created by the nigerian journalists.
Some violence is never re ported at all journalists access to combat zones and especially to rural northeastern nigeria has often been blocked by both boko haram and the nigerian government. A free society reader rises to the challenge of freedom in the twentyfirst century, offering thoughts and insights with significant implications for citizens of todays brand new world. Indeed, over the past three decades, the press has been one of the few. History of newspapers in nigeria in nigeria, the history of print media goes as far back as the 1840s when european missionaries established community newspapers to propagate christianity.
Ahistoryofnigeria assets cambridge university press. The history of nigerian press or print media can be generally divided into four segments. The discovery was made by shellbp, at the time the sole concessionaire. Pdf converter production of historical newspaper digitization. Normative theories four theories of the press introduction. At present, there are several di centers dotting the landscape of nigeria. The nigerian mass media started out with the publication of iwe iroyin.
Its scholars also wrote the textbooks that were used at all levels of the nigerian education system for many years. He was also a friend of the indian press and defended its right to exist and voice the opinions of the people. A historical overview the nigerian press is not the oldest on the continent, or even in the west african subregion. Prior to this, high quality printing was done abroad. Books were not reproduced for the masses, however, until the invention of the printing press in 1456.
The sailing of nigeria ship in politics from colonial era have been in conjunction with some people who can be described as the nation builder because of the role they have played in nigeria political development among whom is the press1. History of nigerian mass media today nigerian guide. History of nigerian newspaper a brief walk into the origin. They date back as far as the 5th century bc, when communities living around the southern slopes of the jos plateau make wonderfully expressive terracotta figures in a tradition known now as the nok culture, from the nigerian village where these. The historical background and development of the nigerian press commenced with the printing media on 3 rd december 1859 by a christian missionary named reverend henrytownsend who established the first newspaper in nigeria called iwe iroyin fun awon egba ati yoruba which literary means a newspaper for the egba and yoruba 2 nations. Planet press in lagos pioneered the cutting edge technology. History has it that the first edition of nigerias first newspaper, iwe irohin, came out on november 23, 1859. Emergence of film in nigeria evolution of yoruba films in nigeria evolution of hausa films in nigeria evolution of igbo films in nigeria chapter 15. The history of print media popularly called press or newspaper in nigeria can be traced to the worldwide root which began during the renaissance in europe when handwritten newsletters circulated privately among merchants. Department of mass communication delta state university, abraka, nigeria abstract this paper takes another look at the state of press freedom in nigeria, given fifteen years of uninterrupted democracy in the country. The press and art journalism in nigeria african journals. The university of ibadan was the first university to open in nigeria, and its scholars set up the history departments at most of nigeria s other universities, spreading the ibadan historiography. In nigeria today, almost all private media houses have their programmes broadcast online through webcasting. An early defense of press freedom was made by the poet john milton in his 1644 pamphlet areopagitica, written in response to the british parliaments passage of a law requiring the government to approve all books prior to publication.
Journal of nigeria studies volume 1, number 2, fall 2012 political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960. Political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960. This represents the very first news media that was published in nigeria and it was published in the southwest. How we measure reads a read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title. Nigerian press council is established by cap n128 to promote high professional standards for the nigeria press. The nigerian press council npc is a parastatal established by the nigerian press council act no. This is understandable, although it has led to the neglect of other aspects of the history and contemporary structure of the nigerian press. Like most other press councils around the world, the functions of the nigerian press council revolve around ethical standards. Nigerian heads of state and the press 19142015 bibliography. History of nigerian newspaper a brief walk into the origin of.
And funny enough, some people have institute action in their personal capacities and representation of other members of the newspapers properties association of nigeria npan with suit no. One of the first news publishers was iweirohin, which came out on november 23, 1859. This book by falola and heaton, two experienced and now famed collaborators, is a remarkable new addition to the growing library on a general history of nigeria. Aside the print media, the television stations have also played their part in the fight against corruption and in the defense of democracy. The life of newspapers in nigeria started in the 19th century when the european missioner from presbyterian church rev. Nigerias flag consists of three equal vertical bands of green, white, and green. Geographical, historical and political profiles of nigeria. This freedom has been manifested in two important ways. Profiting from the weaknesses and strengths of its predecessors, it treats not only nigerian politics, administration and economy but focuses also on culture and social history. Origins and interpretation of nigerian press laws michigan state. The historical development of the nigeria press commenced with the. Several dominant themes in nigerian history are essential for understanding contemporary nigerian politics and society. Doc history of broadcasting in nigeria qudus shittu.
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