The Nation Newspaper

Tag: journalist

  • SEC to train journalists

    SEC to train journalists

    All arrangements have been concluded by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to hold this year’s edition of the SEC Journalists’ Academy.

    The academy is a yearly event organised by the apex regulator of the capital market to build capacity in the media Industry and strengthening the quality of media reporting.

    In a statement, the Commission stated that the theme of this year’s edition is, ‘Understanding financial statements’ while the sessions will be facilitated by a team from KPMG Professional Services.

    “The theme of this year’s academy reflects the centrality of financial statements to business reporting and to informing investor and other stakeholder decision making. The academy will strengthen the competence and capacity of journalists in interpreting financial statements, using them as a basis for adjudging company financial health and forecasting future performance,” SEC stated.

    The apex capital market regulator noted that besides constituting a corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy, the training programme is also a means of pursuing its market development mandate through provision of requisite training for journalists in order to enhance the quality of market reportage.

    Also, SEC indicated it would organise a two-day training programme for shareholders on financial statements to build capacity among shareholder-activists and raise their performance as custodians of sound corporate governance in the companies where they hold equity.

    “These developmental efforts are being undertaken in line with the dual mandate of market regulation and development which the Investments and Securities Act entrusts the Commission with,” SEC stated.

     

  • Journalists urged to embrace professionalism

    Journalists have been urged to take their jobs seriously and seek professionalism at all times.

    They got the charge at the last month’s edition of the Journalists for Christ (JFC) fellowship.

    At the event with the theme: Making your Journalism count for God, speakers likened a pastor that demands integrity and commitment against all odds.

    According to the keynote speaker, The Nation Online Editor, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin, the work of a journalist is akin to a mission-field that comes with diverse trials. Despite the challenges, he, however, noted that it is an honourable profession that requires paying attention to details. He urged the pressmen to attain excellence in all aspects of the job. And in their attempt at attaining excellence, he charged journalists to network with others, adding that with God the tests will become surmountable.

    He said: “Take your job seriously; be committed to excellence; pay attention to integrity; don’t be a lone ranger; there shall be trials but you shall overcome. Our journalism can count for God if we surrender it to God.”

    While observing that journalism is a lucrative profession that opens up diverse opportunities, Wale Fatade, a journalist with 18 years of experience, said journalists should plan for their retirement early.

    “There is no substitute for diligences. Always remember that each time you write you are writing your own testimonial, so there is no room for sloppiness. When people say journalism does not pay, ask my wife and family. Through journalism, I have been seeing the world and now I reject opportunity of flying abroad. There are many opportunities that are out there.

    Reteriating Otufodunrin’s words, Fola Adekeye, who was formerly with Newswatch, urged pressmen, who are Christians, to bring in their religious values to bear in the profession, saying facts should always be double-checked no matter who or what is involved before going to press.

    He said: “Make your work count as a Christian. The job we do should not determine our values; it should be the other way round.”

    There was, however, controversy about pastors being criticised and at the end the house ruled that facts must count all the time.

  • Amosun mourns journalist

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has described the late Mr. Peter Oyeyemi Obe (81) as an icon of photojournalism in Nigeria.

    Amosun said the veteran photographer’s death is “a great loss” to the media.

    In a statement yesterday, he described the late Obe as a “master of the art of press photography, who bestrode journalism like a colossus”.

    Amosun said: “He was a quintessential photojournalist; a thoroughbred professional. His works have been a source of knowledge and inspiration to many in the profession, right from his eventful days in the Daily Times as chief cameraman.”

    The governor urged the new generation of photojournalists to follow in the late Obe’s footsteps by making professionalism their watchword.

    He commiserated with the deceased’s family and the media, praying God to grant the late Obe eternal rest.

     

  • Journalist elected Rotary Club president

    A journalist and public affairs analyst, Otunba Yomi Olomofe, has been elected the 11th President of Rotary Club of Ajara in Badagry, Lagos.

    His investiture will hold tomorrow at the Hunwaji Apartments and Event Centre, Badagry. The Board of Directors will also be inducted and a fund raiser held for the club’s community projects for 2013/2014.

    Olomofe was chairman and public relations officer of the club for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 Rotary Years. He was also the club’s secretary for the same period. He actively served in numerous committees at club level including club administration, club service project, district governor’s visit and new generations’ committees.

    He was also a member of the District 9110 2013 embrace peace conference committee, the district’s books project committee as well as the district’s multi-club committee.

    The club’s director of public relations, Rotarian Patrick Ntadi, said the club was poised to execute service projects in at least four of the six core areas of the Rotary focus.

    The club, he said, would furnish the L.A primary School in Akarakumo Village, Topo Badagry with teachers’ tables and chairs; renovate the head teacher’s office, provide a 15KVA generator for the use of the Maternity Ward at the Ajara Primary Health Centre, adding that sanitary, food and beverages would be donated to orphanages in the town and the Republic of Benin.

    Rotarian David Victor Dimka, the Customs Area Comptroller, FOU Zone C will chair the investiture, while Chief Oluwole Taiwo, Chairman/CEO Summit Hotels and Suites will be special guest of honour/chief launcher.

    Dr M.I. Alawode, Deputy Director-General, Nigeria French Language Village, will deliver the keynote paper.

  • Journalist applauds varsity

    A veteran journalist, Mallam Mohammad Haruna has commended the management and students of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai for their giant strides towards transforming the institution into a renowned centre of learning.

    Speaking at the second Press Week organised by the university’s Mass Communication department, the former Managing Director of New Nigeria newspapers said the impressive performance of the students convinced him that the Niger State government was justified in establishing the university.

    Haruna who writes columns published in the Daily Trust, The Nation and Gamji spoke on the topic: ‘The Press, National Security and the Nigeria Project’ at the event.

    He charged both practicing and aspiring journalists to always uphold journalism ethics even under difficult circumstances.

    He also advised them to be patriotic and committed to promoting Nigeria’s Unity by been responsible in their reporting, objective and fair to all parties.

    In his remarks at the occasion, Niger State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Prof Mohammed Kuta Yahaya pledged to cooperate with the department and the university to drive the cause of excellence.

    Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Ibrahim Adamu Kolo, reiterated the Management’s resolve to ensure high academic standards. He added that the institution got full accreditation status for 17 out of 19 academic programmes presented to the National Universities Commission (NUC) last November.

  • Al-makura advises journalists

    GovERNOR Umaru Al-makura of Nasarawa State has advised journalists to be objective in their reportage.

    The governor gave the advice in Lafia when the Management of Precious FM paid him a courtesy visit.

    The governor described journalism as an old profession which mirrors the society, adding that the professionals played crucial role in national development.

    He said the state government would give special attention to the welfare of journalists working in the state to be in a position to disseminate information effectively.

     

    The governor added that his administration operates an open door policy and urged journalists to help to publicise government’s activities.

    He commended journalists in the state for educating and sensitising members of the public on the activities of government.

    He said that the decision to digitalise the state owned media outfits was to meet up with the National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) policies.

    “Information and Communications Technology (ICT) play a vital role in the education and enlightenment of the people.

    “Information is the life wire of economic and national development and this administration will do everything possible to avail the people the necessary opportunities and channels of information.’’

    Al-makura commended the contribution of precious FM in enlightening the people of the state and Nigerians at large, adding that their programmes had contributed to good governance in the state.

    He, however, advised the radio station to desist from airing programmes that were capable of over-heating the polity and causing friction in the society.

    The General Manager of the station, Mr Abdullahi Musa, commiserated with the state government over the killing of security operatives in Alakyo and described the act as irresponsible.

    “We pray that God would give you the wisdom to bring the security situation in the state under control”, he said.

    He commended the state government for constituting a judicial panel of inquiry over the killing, and expressed the hope that it would yield positive result.

  • Journalist condoles with Newswatch

    The pioneer chairman, Lawyers in The Media (LIM) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Gbolahan Gbadamosi, yesterday expressed his condolences over the death of Nurudeen Jewola of Newswatch, who died last Sunday. Jewola’s death following a kidney problem spurred Gbadamosi to insist that media owners should provide better security and insurance cover for journalists.

    Last July, the lawyer made a similar call when Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi donated N1 million to an ailing journalist of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles, Tunde Babajide, who had prostate cancer and was on admission at the University College Hospital (UCH).

    The former Chairman, The Guardian chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) expressed his gratitude to Ajimobi and Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), who recently donated N1.5 million for the treatment of Jude Okwue of ThisDay, who had a kidney-related ailment.

     

  • Abducted journalist: Kidnappers demand N6m ransom

    Abductors of a journalist and nursing mother, Mrs Olubunmi Oke, a staff of the Nigeria Television Authority, kidnapped in Akure, are asking for N6 million ransom. They initially asked for N15 million. The family has, however, been unable to raise the money.

    Women journalists under the aegis of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) are therefore, seeking uncon-ditional release of their kidnapped colleague.

    In a statement released yesterday and signed by NAWOJ chairman, Ondo State Chapter, Mrs Olutope Ayo Fashuyi, the association said the kidnapped member, Mrs Olubunmi Oke, a staff of Nigeria Television Authourity, Akure, was abducted by unknown gunmen,while returning home after casting the 7 o’ clock news.

    She was abducted around 11pm, Thursday night.

    Her colleagues got wind of the incident on Friday. “We passionately appeal to these people that Mrs Oke be released, being a nursing mother to enable her attend to her baby. NAWOJ equally calls on the security agencies in the country to do all they can to ensure her quick release in order for her to breast-feed her baby,” said Fashuyi.

     

  • Gunmen kill journalist in Onitsha

    The Editor of Anambra News, a monthly local newspaper in Onitsha, Anambra State, Mr Ik Udendu, has been killed by suspected assassins.

    The late Udendu was returning from Onitsha to his home in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government, on Saturday night, when he was reportedly killed.

    Police Commissioner Ballah Nasarawa confirmed the killing in Awka, the state capital.

    He said he would investigate the matter to know those behind the killing.

    The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Henry Nwasike, and Secretary, Comrade Ifeoma Anumba, could not be reached for reactions yesterday.

    A family source said the late Udendu visited a commercial printer in Onitsha to know if his paper had been printed for distribution.

    He did not return home, the source said.

    The late editor’s elder brother, Chukwulozie, also a journalist and publisher of the paper, said the body of his slain brother had been deposited at the Iyi-Enu Hospital Mortuary, Ogidi, for autopsy.

    Chukwulozie said his late brother had no misunderstanding or disagreement with anybody that could have warranted his murder.

    He, however, said he received an anonymous phone call on Saturday night that he should pick his brother’s body in front of a restaurant at Afor Nkpor.

    The publisher said the family contacted the vigilance group, which contacted Ogidi Police Station.

    According to him, the police took the body to nearby Iyi-Enu Hospital Mortuary.

     

     

     

     

  • NUJ petitions FCT police chief over assault on journalist

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has petitioned Police Commissioner Aderenle Shinaba over the alleged assault of Leadership Newspapers reporter, Mr. Igho Oyoyo, by men and officers of the command.

    Oyoyo was, at the weekend, allegedly beaten up by some officers and men of the FCT Police Command.

    The NUJ gave the names of the policemen as Ibian Eno, John Ikwuo, Abubakar Katcham, and Malah Muhammed. The police team was led by Inspector Bitrus Dakup, the union added.

    The incident was said to have occurred during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ward primary in the FCT.

    The FCT NUJ Secretary Emmanuel Ogbeche urged Shinaba to take immediate action against the errant policemen.

    He described the action of the policemen as unprofessional, barbaric and against the present administration’s rule of law mantra.

    The NUJ secretary threatened that the council would sue the policemen, if the command failed to take appropriate disciplinary action against them.

    “The action of the policemen offends decorum, professionalism and respect for human dignity,” Ogbeche said.