The Nation Newspaper

Tag: journalist

  • …Amosun too

    Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has expressed deep shock at the news of the demise of front line journalist and Vice-Chairman of The Sun Publishing Company Limited, Mr Dimgba Igwe.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Wakama, Amosun said he is saddened by the news of the death of the veteran journalist, describing it as a big loss to journalism in particular and the media industry in general.

    “Dimgba Igwe was a cerebral and fearless Journalist, prolific writer and renowned media administrator, who was well respected in his profession. I recall the last time I saw him and Mike Awoyinfa, when they came to interview me. I feel so sad that such a thoroughbred journalist, who still had so much to give to the journalism profession and indeed the development of our country died in his prime,” the governor said.

    The governor commiserated with the family of the deceased, management and staff of The Sun Publishing Company Limited, and the media industry in Nigeria on the demise of the front line journalist.

  • Lecturer, journalist par excellence

    When in my final year at the University of Lagos I had to write my project, I instinctively chose one of the popular Mass Communication research topics.

    I opted for topics similar to projects I had read in the department’s library. I proposed using questionnaire to be filled by students since I wanted to write on newspaper readership in Unilag on an issue I can’t remember now. .

    My supervisor had no problem with my topic but was not sure if the data gathering would be thoroughly done in a way to justify whatever findings I would come up with.

    He suggested an historical research on a media-related issue on which not much has been written on which could be a rich source of information. For him, students should not write projects only for fulfilling the graduation requirement, but attempt to make a contribution to advancing the body of knowledge required in Mass Communication study and practice.

    His counsel has since proved true with the continuous citing of my project titled ‘30 Years of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ): Achievements, Problems and Prospects in researches and publications on the history of the union.’

    My mystery supervisor who I owe a debt of gratitude not only for supervising my project but for the thorough training I got in news and feature writing is Professor Olatunji Dare.

    Last Thursday he turned 70 and his birthday was marked with a lecture and book launch in Lagos.

    Like many who spoke at the occasion and in other tributes, I testify that Professor Dare belongs to the class of few communication scholars who combines first class academic with contemporary practical knowledge of media practice.

    That he has been teaching journalism in the United States for some years now and remains one of Nigeria’s leading newspaper columnists attest to the stuff he is made of and why he deserves all the accolades he has been getting at 70.

    Our university system needs lecturers like Professor Dare who are interested in giving students the required supervision and support to write projects they and their departments can be proud of years after graduation.

    We need more projects that can come up with findings to enhance productivity in the industry fresh graduates are supposed to work in. Student projects up to the doctorate level will not be worth the trouble and expense if they only gather dust in Libraries of higher institutions.

    We need more lecturers who are masters of the theoretical and practical knowledge of the subjects they teach. Many recent graduates are victims of the present system which allows some lecturers who have not practiced some profession to teach the qualifying course of study. University lecturers should regularly update their knowledge of the industry they are producing students for if the degree the institutions offer is to be worth the paper on which they are printed.

    Lecturers should always remember that whether they will be celebrated or not by their former students and colleagues like Professor Dare will depend on the quality of their performance in their various academic and professional assignments.

    They don’t have to wait to get to heaven ( if they make it there)  to get the reward of service, they can get rewarded while alive if they do what they are paid to do.

    Congratulations my dear  Professor  Dare. You are indeed a teacher and journalist par excellence.

  • Doctors’ strike: Journalist loses wife

    Doctors’ strike: Journalist loses wife

    The ongoing strike action by members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has claimed the life of Christiana, wife of the Kwara State correspondent of the National Trumpet newspaper, Mr. Kehinde Akinpelu.

    Mrs. Akinpelu, aged 43, died at the Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho in Oyo State, where she had been referred to by a private hospital in Ilorin due to the ongoing doctors’ strike.

    As a result, journalists in the state have urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders in the health sector to immediately bring to an end the ongoing strike by medical doctors.

    According to family sources, the late Christiana had taken ill on Thursday night and was rushed to a private clinic, from where she was later referred to Ogbomosho.

    In a statement signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Correspondents chapel, Kwara State council of the NUJ, Bolaji Olanrewaju and Biola Azeez, chairman and secretary respectively, the NUJ said: “If the doctors were on duty at UITH, Ilorin there wouldn’t have been any reason to be sending this young family back and forth and the precious time wasted travelling between Ogbomosho and Ilorin could have been devoted to saving her life. Even the unnecessary stress the deceased went through were clearly avoidable in an environment with quality health personnel, but who are up in arms against their employers over issues they argue are justified.

    “We believe that both government and the doctors should sit down and be reasonable in ending this unnecessary strike that has led to a number of avoidable deaths. We would like to tell the doctors that no welfare package is worth the life of a single patient.”

  • Journalist for House of Reps

    Journalist for House of Reps

    A journalist, Mr. Adewale Ogunniran, has unfolded his ambition to vie for a seat in the House of representatives in Ona-Ara/ Egbeda Constituency, Oyo State.

    Ogunniran, who is the publisher of Integrity Reporter, told the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the constituency that he was motivated by the desire to serve the people.

    The aspirant and his supporters were received at the weekly meeting of the party bythe local government chapter chairman, Pa Buiaminu Oladele, who promised a level playing ground for aspirants.

    Ogunniran solicited the elders’ support for his aspiration, promising not to let the party down. He said he would offer a qualitative representation, if elected as a federal legislator.

    A party elder, Pastor Matthew Bogunmbe, told Ogunniran that the elders have noted his ambition. He also prayed for his success at the primaries.

    Another elder, Pa Jaiyeola Bankole, decribed the aspirant as a young, dynamic figure, assuring that he will not disappoint the progressive family.

    He said: “We are happy that Ogunniran has come to us. He has shown that he is a true son of Ona Ara and Egbeda and we will give him our support for his ambition in 2015.”

    Other elders at the meeting were Mr Sunmaila Akani, Chairman Caretaker  committee of Ona Ara Local Government, Mr. Sina Adeagbo, Baba Elege, Hon. Jenrade, Mr Bola Fawole and Alhaji Ore

  • Journalist presents Democratic Interface

    —FRCN seasoned correspondent, Gbenga Onayiga, captures some remarkable moments in Nigeria’s quest for democracy in his 250- page book prelude to his retirement after 35 years of service.

    Nigerian journalists are fast joining the league of book writers and emulating their counterparts in developed democracies by churning out books based on their experiences while performing their reportorial duties.

    The latest insightful, scholarly and intellectually challenging work on contemporary Nigerian political history entitled “Democratic Interface: Memoirs of a Political Reporter” written by a Radio Nigeria veteran political correspondent, Gbenga Onayiga, will enrich the book shelves on Tuesday when it will be presented to the public at the National Press Centre, Radio House, Abuja.

    Nigeria as a nation has passed through various political experiences under military and civilian administrations. This has contributed significantly in shaping the future of the country. Onayiga is evidently one of those so strategically positioned by providence to chronicle some of the major events that contributed to the shaping of the destiny of the nation.

    A ringside observer in the country’s political evolutionary process, Onayiga had seen the intrigues, blackmail and other vices in their conduct. The book is a product of his personal experience in his chequered journalism career as a political reporter spanning about three decades. The work is the outcome of surveillance kept over the attitude of successive governments and the citizens thereby ensuring the checks and balances required in a democracy. The work is a clear demonstration of the reference to journalists as people who write history in a hurry, as Onayiga chronicles major political developments, particularly during the various transition programmes in Nigeria since independence.

    In furtherance of its constitutional injunction, the “Fourth Estate of the Realm”, as the media is usually referred to, has always been monitoring the activities of government and promoting strict adherence to the rule of law as well as the sustenance of democracy in the country. Right from the founding of the first newspaper in Nigeria “Iwe Irohin ni Ede Yoruba” by Reverend Henry Townsend in Abeokuta in 1859, the media in Nigeria has been in the fore-front of defending the rights of the masses. It played the advocacy role and helped to check the excesses of the government.

    Indeed, the media led by nationalists like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Ernest Seisei Ikoli, used the power of the pen to champion the attainment of independence for the country. It is therefore not an over-statement to conclude that the media, more than any other profession, suffered and sacrificed a lot in lending a hand to bringing about whatever success has been recorded in the social, political and economic life of the country.

    Nigeria can boast of having the freest and most outspoken press in the whole of Africa, one which has been credited for having helped in Nigeria’s transition to civilian government, but also one which has consistently (and understandably) been the target of harassment by past military dictatorships. Many agents of Nigeria’s press have been imprisoned, exiled, tortured or murdered as a result. Nevertheless, few still persevered, working to make the dreams of the founding fathers of Nigeria not to be in vain.

    Our nation today needs people like Onayiga in the media profession. Men who are honest, true to the heart, self-made men, men with conscience, steady as the needle to the pole, men who would stand for their right even if the heavens and earth reel, men who can look the world in the face and tell the truth, men who have courage without being domineering, men who know their place and fill it, men who know their message and preach it, men who would not lie, shrink or dodge, men who are not lazy to work, nor too proud to be poor. He is a trusted, visionary and committed journalist.

    The public service of Onayiga has given him a deep sense of commitment, honesty, enthusiasm, responsibility, the right mental attitude and other positive characteristics that are lacking in many in public positions which affect the lives of the less privileged in the country today.

    This book is primarily a general interest encyclopedia about trust, transparency and accountability of the media to the project called Nigeria.

    There has been a growing realisation that the mass media has been under-used in development. The key realization has been that the mass media can be deployed in the fight against poverty, corruption, Niger Delta and Boko Haram insurgency as well as failing infrastructural development. There is also the need for an increased emphasis on good governance and strengthening democracy. The mass media is widely seen as playing a key part in supporting people’s rights under law, and in holding politicians and officials to account.

    The book is written in simple language that is accessible to many grades of literacy. It is a must read for policy makers, critics of the media, teachers and students of history, education, sociology, anthropology, and political scientists at all levels. The book will no doubt give a fresh perspective and clear some doubts concerning this institution and at the same time arouse the very deep interest of the media in entrenching, deepening and sustaining democracy and good governance.

    The author deploys his powerful skill in political reporting to full effect and comes up with a captivating masterpiece that should enrich Nigeria’s literary establishment. The book does not pretend to be a study of the media thought process and involvement in Nigeria’s democratic experience, but it provides the basis for the study of emerging trends and paradigm shift of the use of the media in Africa’s biggest democracy.

    It is obvious that the book is going to set standards for media treatises that is bound to flow as Nigeria’s fledgling democracy finds firm footing in the years to come.

  • ‘Offend’ and be damned

    It is the eternal lot of the journalist in Nigeria to suffer image problem and poor self esteem. Though we are touted to be of the Fourth Estate of the realm, that claim is either a huge joke or the worst self delusion ever invented for most journalists cannot boast of a tin roof, not to talk of an entire estate. While half of Nigerians would probably vote the press and its practitioners as necessary evil, the other half would surmise it is an unnecessary evil. But evil it is either way. Thus though the press is tolerated, used and even abused, there is a subterranean disdain for the media, especially among the new, cabalistic elite of today. While an erstwhile president of the United States famously said he would rather have the press than the senate, Nigeria’s ruling elite of today will gladly abolish the press and go to bed with the senate (no ‘offence’ intended!).

    The above rigmarole of an introduction is an attempt to surmise the thinking of the National Conference administrators when they threatened they would withdraw the accreditation granted to a media house for the covering of the talk-shop if it proves to be ‘antagonistic’ during the course of the confab. This threat is contained under Order 14 – Miscellaneous of the National Conference Procedure rules, 2014. To quote from the rule books, “The Conference may withdraw approval to the representative of any media to attend the sitting of the conference if the medium publishes a report on the proceedings which the Conference considers unfair, offensive and not a true reflection of what transpired.”

    Hardball insists that this is an outright gag and intimidation of the press and asks that this Order 14 must be expunged immediately from the confab’s Procedure Rules. It is unacceptable that the media is being singled out here for harangue, intimidation and bating. If the confab could do without the press, well and good, the entire independent press would stay away. Otherwise, the press must be allowed to participate on its own terms, according to its professional dictates and without being limited or shackled.

    This is neither the first conference nor biggest national event ever to be covered by media houses in Nigeria and never had a special rule of engagement been drawn for the media. The administrators may also be overreaching itself a little to think that it can bar the press or that it reserves the right to accredit the press to cover the conference. The press, especially Nigerians, need no accreditation whatsoever to report the conference. Let us not forget that the entire junket is being bankrolled by tax payers and that automatically gives us all entry tickets to the confab under the law to play our legitimate roles.

    Finally, what constitutes an unfair or offensive report? Who determines it? What does the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria admonish in a situation like this? Why do we split hairs about ‘unfair’ ‘untrue’ and ‘offensive’ reports? Is our media law not replete with prescriptions, charges, punishments and even remedies for sloppy, poor and willfully malicious reporting? While we await the confab’s rethink of Order 14, let it be noted that should this one too fail, it would not be due to ‘offensive’ reporting.

     

  • Kidnapped PH journalist freed

    An on air presenter and comedian working for Port Harcourt, Rivers State based Cool FM, Mr Anthony Akatakpo who was abducted last Thursday, has been released.

    He was released on Thursday morning although details of how he was freed were still sketchy.

    Akatakpo who goes by the moniker of Diplomatic Akas was snatched by gunmen from his resident in the Garden City.

    He was shot by his abductors who later whisked him away.

    A source in Wazobia FM told The Nation, “Akas Baba has been released; he is presented being treated in a private hospital. We are so happy.”

    His release led to wide celebration in Port Harcourt, particularly around CoolFM office located along the East West Road.

  • ‘Journalists must partner with institutions’

    ‘Journalists must partner with institutions’

    The Head of Department (HOD) of Mass Communication at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Mr Mahmud Abdulraheem, has called for more collaboration between journalists and academic institutions. He said the partnership would be mutually beneficial.

    The HOD made the call when members of the Organising Committee of this year’s Press Week of the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) paid him a visit. The journalists were led by union chairman, Mallam Abiodun Abdulkareem.

    Mahmud said partnership between NUJ and the academics was necessary because there was a need for both to come together and generate ideas, which would enhance professionalism among journalists and academics.

    “The collaboration will be a mutual benefit for both the academics and NUJ, because when we begin to to witness such partnership, a lot of things would be introduced that will enhance the activities and performance of journalists,” he said.

    He added: “From time to time, we will invite journalists to talks and share their experiences with our students. We believe that they are mentors to students of journalism.”

    Mahmud, a former General Manager of Radio Kwara, disclosed that post-graduate programmes would soon commence in the department, which at present offers undergraduate programmes in Mass Communication only.

    The visit, according to chairman of the NUJ Press Week Committee, Mr Alli Mohammad Robiu, was aimed at strengthening relationship between the union and the department and seek the advice and support of the HOD for the Week.

  • Police arrest fake Journalist for raping fufu seller

    …as robbers shot in Ogun


    The Ogun State Police Command has arrested fake journalist, Tosin Awotedo, for raping a girl of 10 years old in Igbeba Ijebu Ode. 

    The minor who hawks Fufu was said to have been raped severally by the  47 years old Awotedo, in his Igbeba apartment  for more than four times before he was finally arrested by the police.

    It was learnt that the victim’s mother, who was alerted by her neighbours of the recurrent misdeeds of the suspect, reported it to the police 

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect was interrogated by the Divisional Police Officer in Igbeba, Mr Halilu Muahawiya, and he  claimed to be a journalist but was discovered to be a fake. 

    According to him, the victim has been taken to the hospital for medical examination while  a case of rape  has been established against the suspect  for prosecution. 

    Adejobi also revealed that  the anti crime patrol attached to the Onipanu Division in Otta had on Wednesday engaged some robbery suspects in a gun battle which led to the death of one of the robbers while others escaped with bullet wounds in Ilasa road, Iyesi area in Otta. 

    Adejobi said:”the victim of the robbery said the robbers trailed him from a bank where he withdrew a sum of 100,000(one hundred thousand naira only) and robbed him at gun point in his residence in Iyesi Otta. 

    “The police detectives who responded swiftly to a distress call from his neighbours, gave the robbers a hot chase before the gun battle ensued between the police and the robbers. 

    “One browning pistol with its ammunition and a sum of 65,000(sixty five thousand naira) were recovered from the dead robber. 

    “The command wishes to assure the general public in Ogun State of adequate protection of lives and property; and urges the good people of the state to always contact the police whenever the needs arise as the Commissioner of police ogun state CP Ikemefuna Okoye appreciates those neighbours of the victim who put a distress call across to the police.”

  • Govt okays journalist’s novel for schools

    A novel, The Young Boy and the Island, written by a journalist, Mr. John Ighodaro, has been approved by the Federal Government for use in primary schools.

    In a statement in Calabar, the author said the novel would henceforth be used by all public primary schools in the country to develop pupils interest in literature and teach them life’s lessons. The book, published by the West African Book Publishers Ltd, has been described in superlative terms by editors.

    One of them, Mr. Hyacinth Egbulem, said of the novel: ”It is a seminal book, very rich, accessible and easy to understand. It is a rare book, rare in the sense that you can’t compartmentalise it and say it is meant for a particular group only.

    “It is a book that every shade of society will enjoy reading irrespective of one’s education or calling in life. It can be read in the primary, in secondary schools or even at the university. It speaks to everyone.”

    Another editor with the publishing house, Mr. Samson Akindoyo, described the novel as ”an unusual way of handling rejection, hatred and ugly relationships. This is a story for all and sundry. It teaches us that no matter the condition, there is always a way out and many of our so-called problems are not really beyond us as we may think, as the solutions are usually in us. Self discovery is all that we need. Many awhile, our challenges are taken past their usual limit but they are not outside the realm of possible resolution.”

    Ighodaro is also the author of Milikoos Island and Placards, which he revealed was inspired by the subject of the Christmas message to Nigeria by the former president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Sunday Mbang in this year 2000.

    The author, a journalist, playwright and short story writer, hails from Edo State.