The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Editor

  • Engage new media, The Nation Online Editor urges students

    Engage new media, The Nation Online Editor urges students

    Mass Communication students have been urged to embrace the new media if they want to be relevant in the emerging trend of communication. The charge was given by the Managing Editor, Online and Special Publications of The Nation, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin, at a seminar marking the Mass Communication Students’ Association (MCSA) Week at Babcock University.

    The event with the theme: Preparing for a Mass Communication Career in a New Media Age, was held on the campus.

    Otufodunrin noted that the teaching of traditional journalism was changing with the advent of the new media, which he said youths are championing. The knowledge of new media, Otufodunrin said, would increase the chance of the youth to get job in the media.

    He said: “Media organisations and other employers of communication graduates now give preference to those who are skilled in new media not only for social interaction, which was the original purpose of the platform, but to those who know how to apply it professionally.”

    The Editor, however, said journalism training could not be substituted for skills in the use of new media, saying not many of the users of the new media possessed knowledge required to practise journalism.

    “Students must realise that they can only become professionals in mass communication if they acquire skills in the use of social media to complement their knowledge in traditional journalism. It would not be good enough if you know how to use the new media and you don’t have the required media knowledge in traditional journalism,” he said.

    The event also saw him engage the students and staff of the department with tangible ideas on how to start making earnest and intentional preparations towards a successful career in the field.

    Otufodunrin urged the students improve their activities on Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms, but cautioned them against the wrong use of social media.

    The seminar also featured an interactive session, where the guest speaker engaged participants on how to use social media.

    Alaba Abodunrin, a 300-Level student, described the session as educative, noting that he Otufodunrin’s message was clear and straightforward on the need to engage the new media.

  • DSS arrests editor in defiance of court

    The Department of Security Services (DSS) has arrested  the Editor-in-Chief of Tentacle Magazine, Innocent  Nwachukwu.

    The journalist, according to his counsel, Chief Aloy Ezenduka, was forcefully taken from his Ikotun, Lagos home on January 14, this year and taken to Abuja over a story titled: ”20 threats against Jonathan’s re-election survey” published on September 22, 2014 edition of the magazine.

    This was in spite of a Federal High Court which restrained the DSS from arresting the journalist.

    Justice M. N. Yunusa had on December 30, 2014 issued the order while ruling on a Motion Ex-parte application filed by the journalist through his counsel against the DSS.

    Joined as correspondent in the suit was the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

    The judge had granted all the prayers of the applicant.

    After hearing the arguments of the applicant, through his counsel, the judge had ordered the parties to maintain status quo ante bellum and stay further action pending the determination of the Motion on Notice filed by the applicant.

    Justice Yunusa also granted the applicant an order for substituted service of the Originating Motion and all other processes accompanying same and subsequent processes on the first and second respondents by Airway Courier at DSS office, Abuja.

    He said such service shall be deemed as good and proper service on the respondents.

    He adjourned the matter to February 9, this year for report of compliance.

    Rather than obey the order, the DSS  operatives arrested the journalist.

    Ezenduka said in a statement that the development confirmed their fears that the earlier invitation extended to the journalist “was a ploy to harass, intimidate and gag his client’s freedom of the press, of professional and right to disseminate information without undue molestation from any person, including DSS”.

    The lawyer claimed that officials of the DSS also visited the office of his client “in a commando-style invasion” and vandalised the place, remove computers, working and private documents, beat and manhandled the staff and seized manuscripts of the January 16, this year’s edition of the magazine.

    Ezenduka urged the DSS release his client unconditionally in obedience to the court order.

    He threatened to  sue the director-general of theDSS and claim compensation for human right abuse.

     

     

     

  • The ‘limping editor’ at 60

    The ‘limping editor’ at 60

    General Manager (Corporate Services), Vintage Press Limited, Pastor Soji Omotunde has celebrated his 60th birthday at The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Complete Sanctuary, Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, reports TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

    He was destined for a position of an editor in a newly established newspaper but as faith would have it, someone convinced the publisher not to make him the editor.

    “Why? The publisher inquired.

    “How can you make someone limping as an editor of the paper,” he replied.

    The publisher who was out of the country at that time agreed and he was instead made the head of the Editorial Board.

    He took it in his stride, believing that position comes from God, after all “I have edited Timesweek and African Concord before the accident that only made me to be limping because of hip dislocation while I still remain alive and well.”

    After a while, God’s plan came to manifest in his life as he was apologized and made the Editor after the latter decided to leave the position.

    “The management even gave me a better package than the former editor,” he disclosed.

    Such is the story of Pastor Soji Omotunde, the General Manager (Corporate Services), Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation newspaper.

    Pastor Omotunde, who celebrated 60th birthday last Sunday at The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Complete Sanctuary, Dominion Area Headquarters, Iju-Ishaga, Lagos outskirt told the gathering how he had close shave with death when he had an accident that occurred along Akure-Iju road in January 1996.

    An incident that made him unconscious for three days before he was brought to Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital, Lagos, but for God’s grace, he came out alive, was down for about eight months, and then arose, limping but not wrecked. It was that occurrence that made him to surrender his life to Jesus. “I might be limping, but I keep rejoicing in the Lord for sustaining me to move forward,” he said. Even when thereafter he was arrested as Editor of African Concord by the Sani Abacha regime, the threats to assassinate him while in detention for several months could not manifest.

    His story touched the church auditorium-filled guests that came to felicitate with him on the occasion.

    The pensive mood that followed the celebrator’s heart-touching story was dissuaded, courtesy of spectacular performance by a singer and drummer, Funmi Ayan Jesu, the church’s youth drama group and the choir.

    Pastor Omotunde took to the dance floor to celebrate God’s mercies and grace in his life.

    Surrounded by his wife Florence Emiede and family members, the celebrator acknowledged cheers from friends and colleagues who mounted the dance floor to thank God for him.

    The ornately decorated auditorium of the newly-built church erupted in celebrations.

    The event featured praise and worship, opening prayer, hymns, Bible readings by two of the celebrant’s children, Tolulope and Mrs. Ibiyemi Nwenearizi and guests’ tributes and testimonies in abundance.

    The Pastor-in-Charge of RCCG, Anambra Province 2, Pastor Paschal Udah, who ministered congratulated the celebrator. He prayed he fulfils his mission on earth.

    “You did not come to this world for nothing; God sent you to do something special. I pray you accomplish it and do more because you have many more years on earth,” he said.

    Pastor Udah enjoined the gathering to make impact in peoples’ lives every day.

    “The value of man’s life is to contribute to another man’s life; if you live a million years on earth and never impacted on the planet earth, you have not live anything, but if it’s just few years and impactful, the whole world will not forget you,” he said.

    He prayed for the celebrator alongside his family members – all on kneels.

    Afterwards, Pastors Udah and Omotunde shook hands and hugged.

    Prayers were also said for Mr John Omotunde, an engineer and his wife, Barrister Lilian who marked 36th wedding anniversary on that day.

    Pastor Kola Odesanmi presented two books – Crossover to Perfection and As It Is written by Pastor Omotunde.

    The duo of Pastor Sanya Oni, Editorial Page Editor of The Nation and Deacon Kayode Oyawa reviewed the books.

    The Omotundes afterwards moved towards the cake. Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diasporas, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa was given the task to supervise the cutting of the cake.

    With J-E-S-U-S, the cake was cut.

    Dabiri-Erewa, a former journalist at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) described Pastor Omotunde as a friend, brother and senior colleague in journalism.

    “I have known him for as many years I have been in journalism; we have worked together as journalists – he, is newspaper and I, in television; he is an erudite journalist. He is fair, straight forward and has passion for what he does; a gentleman per excellence,” she said.

    The celebrator’s wife, Emiede, in her tributes, described him as wonderful.

    “As you celebrate your 60th birthday, the beauty of the Lord will be upon you, may He set you on high and honour you with longer life, good health and not lack in anything good,” Mrs. Omotunde wrote.

    In his response, Pastor Omotunde thanked all for coming.

    He enjoined the gathering never to be wailed down by challenges, saying “even though you might fall, you can rise higher.”

  • Former editor petitions Sports Minister

    Former editor petitions Sports Minister

    • Backs Maigari-led NFF probe 

    The Federal Government has been challenged to probe the the multi-billion naira finances allocated to the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led by Alhaji Aminu Maigari, in the last 24 months.

    It has also been asked to look into the alleged fraudulent deal signed with the League Management Company (LMC) with an advertising agency.

    A petition signed by a former Group Sports Editor of Thisday Newspaper and current publisher of Gongnews.com, an online news medium, Olajide Fashikun and addressed to the Minister of Sports Dr. Tammy Danagogo, the petitioner said he decided to call for the probe of the NFF leadership “as part of the desired changes which Nigeria’s sports deserves following the years of mal-administration and loss of focus by those saddled with the responsibility of developing sports”.

    The areas that  Fashikun want the Federal Government to investigate include the $2 million paid by the Federal Government and $8 million paid by FIFA for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as some players are still claiming that they have not received their share of the participation having played in the qualifiers without playing in the finals; the $1 million reserved by the Sani Abdullahi led board for the furnishing of the Sunday Dankaro House and secretariat of the NFF in Package B at the National Stadium, Abuja; the N790 million for the 2013 African Cup of Nations; the N170 million received for the 2013 FIFA Confederation Cup in Brazil and the money paid by FIFA for same.

    The petitioner further wants the Federal Government to probe the $1.5 million grant given by FIFA to prepare the team, the Super Eagles for the 2014 World Cup; proceeds from the sponsorship deals with Globacom, Guinness, TomTom, Peak Milk and Adidas; N1.288 billion being the sum of the monthly subvention received from government from January 2013 to June 2014; N850 million received from government for the preparation and participation of the Super Eagles in the first round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the $8 million and $6 million expected revenue from FIFA for playing in the first round and qualifying for the round of 16 respectively.

    He noted that if “Nigeria football must be saved and helped to progress without committing the same error in the future, and as a measure to prevent this from repeating itself, given as a deterrence, you must act in good faith”.

    Fashikun, in the petition dated July 4, 2014, said since Football, is one of the 26 sectors under the purview of the minister and  for the fact that Nigeria are too emotional and passionate about football it was urgent that a probe be initiated to address the anomalies in the system.

    He said: “It is sad and unjustifiable that monies taken from the public till is being fritted away for unnecessary and under developmental purposes. That is why I am demanding from the Minister of Sports, an independent committee to probe the allegations or an investigation by a competent statutory institution”.

    The petitioner stated that had the NFF board used the funds available to them judiciously “the eventual protest of the players that embarrassed the nation would have been avoided. The cost of that embarrassment cannot be quantified in money matters”.

  • National Mirror gets new Editor

    Mr. Bolaji Tunji was yesterday appointed the Editor of National Mirror. His appointment is with immediate effect. Before his appointment, he was Editor, Sunday Mirror.

    A 1990 graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Tunji, a former teacher, began his journalism career with The Guardian in 1993.

    He joined Daily Independent as Deputy News Editor in September 2001. He had a meteoric rise in the company as he was promoted three times within a year, first as Deputy Editor, Politics, Deputy Editor, News before he was elevated to the position of Editor, Breaking News, the rested evening newspaper in the company’s stable.

    He had a stint with Daily Times as Deputy Editor. He was Editor of Saturday Comet and Editor of The Nation on Saturday for four years before he was appointed in 2010 as the pioneer Editor of the Sunday Mirror.

    Tunji is married and has children.