DISTORTION Novels by Lady Ejiro Umukoro Leads PEN Nigeria’s World Press Freedom Day Dialogue

LAGOS, May 2, 2026 PEN Nigeria will host award winning author and global impact investigative journalist Lady Ejiro Umukoro as headline speaker for a special World Press Freedom Day virtual event on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 7:00 PM WAT.

The event spotlights Umukoro’s DISTORTION Series as the official Book of Discussion, featuring her award-winning, Delta State Ministry of Education-approved novel DISTORTION and the TYB Young Adult Literature Prize novel, The DISTORTION of HADASSAH. Both titles are published by LightRay! Media, a Multi-Award Winning independent publishing house recognized for advancing bold African narratives and investigative stories that confront systemic injustice.

Stories That Moved Beyond the Page

The DISTORTION Series has drawn national attention for its impact outside literature. The novels have been credited with sparking human rights conversations, advocacy for abolishing the Osu/Ohu castle system, influencing policy debates, child rights advocacy, fertility, surrogacy, and strengthening investigative journalism through narrative evidence. The DISTORTION of HADASSAH and DISTORTION are currently used in classrooms and cited by activists, NGOs, newsrooms, and legal advocates.

LightRay! Media’s published series has been described by PEN Nigeria as “a critical act of press freedom,” noting the publisher’s role in backing stories that challenge power structures, socio-cultural dynamics, and enter public discourse.

Event Focus: Literature as Evidence

Sunday’s virtual conversation will examine how fiction is being deployed as a tool for justice, the risks facing writers and publishers in Nigeria, and the role of creative licence in defending democracy. PEN Nigeria said the discussion moves beyond traditional panels to an “unfiltered exchange” on press freedom, censorship, and the intersection of storytelling and accountability.

In her invitation to the public, Lady Ejiro Umukoro said:
“It’s happening tomorrow, Sunday May 3rd @7PM. I’m inviting you to come and let’s hang out virtually with me, courtesy of PEN NIGERIA. PS: It’s going to be the kind of intellectual intercourse the DISTORTION Series has a punch to deliver. Expect some powerful Griot dexterity at play when you join in.”

Event Details

Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026

Time: 7:00 PM WAT
Venue: Virtual event, open to the public

Access:Free. Target audience includes writers, journalists, students, educators, and civil society actors.
Join online via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89541756309?pwd=f0eCk4qb66Oxmzm8kHHhQI9D8aGfxj

About the Author
Lady Ejiro Umukoro is a award-winning author and multi award winning global investigative journalist whose work merges literature with social reform. Her DISTORTION Series, published by LightRay! Media, is credited with catalyzing youth advocacy and influencing curriculum adoption by the Federal Ministry of Education.

About LightRay! Media

LightRay! Media is an independent Nigerian publishing and media company focused on African stories that document truth, challenge injustice, and shift culture. It is the official publisher of The DISTORTION of HADASSAH and DISTORTION

About PEN Nigeria
PEN Nigeria is the national centre of PEN International, advocating for freedom of expression, the protection of writers, and the promotion of literature as a tool for human rights.

For further information:
Contact PEN Nigeria and LightRay! Media