Valentine Ozigbo, a Nigerian business mogul and philanthropist, has hailed the Nigerian press as critical in developing the country and Nigeria's democracy. In a statement marking World Press Day, issued from his office in Udoka Estate, Awka, the capital of Anambra State, on Monday, May 3, 2021, Mr Ozigbo called for total press freedom in the country while describing the media as "the defenders of our democracy". An international finance expert, Ozigbo, the immediate Past President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc, called for strategic institutional investment in the media, stressing the importance of the media in nation-building. "Today, I celebrate the Nigerian press for their resilience and commitment to the professional and the development of Nigeria," Ozigbo said. "Our journalists operate under some of the harshest work conditions in the world, yet they continue to play their role in building Nigeria and growing our democracy. "I commend t