The Nation Newspaper

Tag: reporters

  • Ajimobi’s wife lauds reporters

    The wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, has lauded journalists in the state for their unbiased reporting of events.

    She described them as one of the most vibrant in the world and praised their fighting spirit.

    Mrs Ajimobi said: “Working with you people has changed my mind about the media personnel in the country. Communication is important and you are the mouthpiece of the people about the government.

    “You have been giving the people the right information about the Abiola Ajimobi administration. You have been very supportive, enduring and cooperative. You have presented things in the right manner.

    “I am grateful to you and I want you to give me more support. I am open to criticism.”

    She posited that survival of democracy depend largely on the professional contributions of members of the mass media, through balanced stories and unbiased reporting.

  • Traders hail Fashola on Tejuosho

    Tejuosho Market leaders and traders have hailed Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola on the re-opening of the phase one of the rebuilt Tejuosho Shopping Complex in Yaba, Lagos.

    One of the leaders, Alhaja Ganiyat Sekete Dosunmu, told reporters that the governor should be lauded for acceding to their request by hastening the contractors.

    She said the initial delay affected the traders, adding that Fashola should be praised for fulfilling his promise to the traders, who had difficulty plying their trade during the seven years the market was under construction.

    “I thank our action governor for his love. Our hopes were not dashed. I also thank Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, the Iyaloja General, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, the Traditional Council as well as the financier and project contractor for completing the market in time.”

    One of the traders, Alhaji Isiaka Balogun, the Babalaje of the market, commended government officials and contractors for ensuring the speedy completion of the market by meeting the deadline given by the governor.

    Fashola recently reopened the phase one of the market.

    The former Tejuosho Market, one of the major trading and commercial centres in the state, was gutted by fire on December 17, 2007 and was later shut down by the government, which decided to rebuild it in phases, turning it to a shopping complex.

     

     

  • MDGs: Why we lag behind, by Gbeneol

    THE Federal Government has attributed its inability to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) to insurgency in some parts of the country.

    It listed size of the population and unavailability of data, amongst others as factors militating against the targets.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goal, Dr. Precious Gbeneol, stated this in a chat with reporters.

    According to him: “Despite commitment shown in the setting up of institutions, formulation of policies and programs, most African countries still face a lot of challenges in meeting the MDGs.

    “For Nigeria, apart from the size of its population, data availability and management for development planning has presented itself a huge challenge in the attainment of the MDGs.”

    Speaking about areas where Nigeria is behind, she said: “There are goals we are lagging behind; goals of sanitation and water for example, we are lagging slightly behind.

    “Universal Basic Education, with what is going on, the issues of regional insurgents and problems going on, the percentage has also fallen.”

    On some goals that have experienced positive result, Gbeneol said: “We have done well in reducing the proportion of people who suffer from hunger and poverty, gender parity has been reduced and HIV prevalence has also reduced.”

  • Do reporters read?

    NATIONAL MIRROR front and inside pages of July 3 welcome us this week with this kindergarten goof: “…the first set of casualities was recorded yesterday.” Spell-check: casualties

    From the front page to Views: “…why did he not use his immense power against few (a few) individuals that want him out….”

    “These nouveau riche (nouveaux riches) could channel their resources to insurgency cause if it suits them.”

    “This is a welcomed (welcome) development….”

    “Dumpsites takeover (take over) Lagos communities”

    “Group raises alarm (the alarm) on drug abuse” Incredible! Most Nigerian journalists, particularly reporters and copy editors, do not read hence the recurrence of blunders in the media use of language. It is indeed a tragedy of gargantuan implications!

    “Youth Ministry inaugurates anti corruption (anti-corruption) unit”

    Finally from the Back Page of NATIONAL MIRROR under review: “In October 2002, tens of heavily armed members of Islamist militant separatist movement from Chechnya laid siege on (to) the crowded….”

    DAILY SUN of June 30 posted advertorial and editorial faulty lines: “This is one game we have all been impatiently waiting for and the pride and honour of the nation will be upheld as the Super Eagles knockout (knock out) the French.” (Full-page advertisement by Guinness Nigeria PLC)

    Drink (and write) responsibly if you are 18 or above: “To leave your good will (goodwill) messages for the Super Eagles….”

    Next is DAILY Sun EDITORIAL of the above edition which circulated four blunders: “Altogether, the apex bank said it has (had) observed that….”

    “…as some BDCs (BDC) operators are reportedly using foreign exchange purchased from its window to fund unauthorized transactions.”

    “For instance, the foreign reserves which early this year was $40bn have (had) fallen to $35bn last month….”

    “Beyond this, there is strong indication (a strong indication) that the operation of BDCs has encouraged the dollarisation (dollarization—no spelling variation in this particular etymological circumstance) of the economy and money laundering.”

    “MTNF/MUSON Music Scholars (Scholars’) Programme: Applicants who possess the above practical or theory (theoretical) certificates must also satisfy the GCE (O/L) or SSCE requirements.” (Full-page advertisement by MTN…Everywhere you go!)

    “Poor electricity: PENGASSAN calls for revocation of new DISCOs licenses (DISCO licences)”

    “AGF blames N’Assembly over (for/on) delay in implementation of audited Federation Accounts”

    “We most sincerely thank God on (for) your aptly deserved recognition….”

    “Fondly (Fond) regards from us all.” (Hanging sign-off sentence…!)

    Corrigendum: A critical and eagle-eyed reader intervened last week, after some scholasticism, and professorially declared that the phrase ‘nooks and crannies’ exists. This columnist agrees with him based on the revelations of Oxford Learner’s Dictionary (International Student’s Edition) with Compass CD-ROM.

    THE NATION ON SUNDAY of June 29 smuggled in ‘lexical contraband’: “Inhabitants of Totowu Village, Igbesa in Ogun State (another comma) may not be fishermen but they cannot do without canoes as their daily activities revolve around it (them)….”

    “Why Ogoni is at logger heads (loggerheads) with Shell”

    “…he gives fresh insights on (into) the lingering crisis between Shell and its host community in Ogoni land.”

    THE NATION, SATURDAY, April 5, offered readers many slip-ups: “Don’t get me wrong, the fashion of yesteryears (yesteryear) was also very interesting, filled with sartorial splendour.”

    “…the JNC report would most likely end up in the waste paper basket but the point would have been well made.” (Back Page) An illumination: waste basket or waste-paper basket

    DAILY SUN of April 9 slipped several times: “NDLEA arrests food vendor over (for) cocaine in private part”

    “…the minister said no fewer than 5.3 million youths are (were) jobless in the country, while 1.8 million graduates enter (entered) the labour market every year.” (EDITORIAL)

    “…top shots spill the bean (beans)”

    DAILY SUN of April 10 fumbled so many times: “Bravo, Our God-sent Governor” (Full-page advertisement by Ezeagu LGA of Anambra State) For Barrister Sullivan Iheanacho Chime at 55: our God-send governor

    “Why Fulani, farmers clash may continue—Northern Christian youths” National News: farmers’ clash

    “FG okays 6 months (months’) imprisonment for smoking in public”

    “Marketing Edge holds stakeholders (stakeholders’) summit”

    “Atiku’s friend, Gado (another comma) who told the heart rendering story said….” Crime Watch: heart-rending story

    FEEDBACK

    ‘Deworming’ (sometimes known as worming or drenching) is a medical/animal science terminology. It is a procedure for expelling worms from the intestines etcetera of humans and animals. Hence the familiar drugs known as ‘worm expellers’ or ‘dewormers’ which scientists call anti-helmintics. The Global Charity Evidence Action Initiative is well known for its ‘Deworm the World Program’. Merriam Webster Dictionary and online dictionaries like The Free Dictionary and English language portals like Google, Wikipedia, Ask.com, Dictionary.com and Grammarly.com approve the word. (Sunny Agbontaen/Benin City/08055162531), with additional information by this columnist

    THE next five blunders from THE NATION ON SUNDAY of June 29 and Vanguard Allure of June 22 were casually detected by Mr. Kola Danisa (07068074257): “Oyegun paid a courtesy on (to or called on) Gov. Oshiomhole”

    “A majority of the youths having not attended primary schools….” Get it right: youths or the youth

    “And for the medical school to be at per (par or on a par) with others….”

    “When somebody is in a dire straight (in dire straits)….”

    “Indeed, people seat (sit) in their comfort zone and blame….” (DAILY SUN OPINION Page, June 30)

    MIKE Oluranti Ayodele (08034065353) rounds off this week’s contributions: “…on a daily basis to irk (eke) out a living for themselves.” (THE NATION, Saturday, June 28, 2014, Page 2)

  • Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympics: IOC picks four African reporters

    Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympics: IOC picks four African reporters

    The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday selected four African young reporters for the Young Reporters Programme for the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics Games (YOG) in Nanjing, China.

    The reporters listed on the committee’s website, include two male and two female reporters selected from Algeria, Botswana, Ghana and Sudan. The reporters are 24-year-old Yasmine Torche from Algeria and Maria Lovemore from Botswana who is also 24. Others are 20-year-old Stella Annan from Ghana and Sudan’s Zaki Saheed who is 23.

    According to the website, the reporters were selected through a rigorous process across the five continents.

    “ Following the success of the first programme launched at the Singapore 2010 YOG, young reporters were again selected by the Continental Associations of National Olympic Committees through a rigorous process.

    “Representing each of the five continents, they are between the ages of 18 and 24 and are journalism students or have recently started their journalism careers. The initiative is one of the elements which makes the YOG such a unique event.

    “It demonstrates the IOC’s commitment to encouraging young people all over the world to be part of the YOG spirit and was developed as part of the Culture and Education Programme (CEP). It will provide the budding reporters with a cross-platform journalist-training programme and on-the-job experience during the Youth Olympic Games,’’ it said.

    It said the training and assignments during Games time would be driven by highly qualified and renowned professionals in the fields of broadcast and print journalism, social media and photography.

    NAN reports that 31 young reporters have been selected from 23 countries to participate in the programme for the YOG which will hold from August 16 to 28.

    The Games will feature 26 sporting events in 15 venues with 204 countries participating. NAN also reports that the YOG are an elite sporting event for young people from across the world.

    It integrates a unique Culture and Education Programme (CEP), based around five main themes: Olympism, Social Responsibility, Skills Development, Expression and Well-being and Healthy Lifestyles.

  • Warri NUJ trains reporters on social media

    For two days a fortnight ago, members of the Warri Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) were involved in an intensive training programme organised by the chapel to help them cope with the challenges posed by the social media to their profession.

    The two-day seminar has as ‘The Social Media and The Challenges of Journalism Practice in the 21st Century’ as theme. The Chairman of the chapel, Comrade Mike Ikeogwu said it was aimed at keeping his members abreast with the new trends in journalism, particularly on tackling the challenges posed by the advent of social media.

    Ikeogwu remarked that it was regrettable that while journalists are often invited to cover similar trainings, they hardly get trainings that would improve their skills and help them perform at the highest level.

    Chairman of Delta State Council of NUJ, Comrade Norbert Chiazor, said the training was a welcome one and commended the leadership of the Warri NUJ for the initiative. He said social media is filled with amateur reporters who constantly inundate the social space with stories as they break.

    He said it was important for journalists to claim the social media, stating: “Nobody is truthful like the journalist. This is the time to take the centre stage, report objectively and responsibly.”

    He said the NUJ is planning a new direction for journalists to give them the respect they deserve.

    He revealed that the state council had clinched a deal with South Africa based Institute for Advancement in Journalism for the training of its members.

    Meanwhile, seasoned professionals taught during the training programme with Dr Olise Prosper of the Department of Mass Communication, Delta State University, Abraka, speaking on ‘Social Media Emergence: Implications of Journalism Practice in Nigeria’.

    He averred that the social media could either be a social solution and social problems for journalists. On the negative side, he said social media have increased the work load, led to information bombardment, weakened workers’ specialisation, lack of control of information from the media like twitter, Facebook, YouTube etc. He concluded that it has also debased journalism practice.

    Conversely, he noted that if harnessed properly, social medial can help interactivity; help build bridges as well as encourage creativity for reporters.

    The seminar also focused on helping journalists prepare for life after retirement with Dr Cyril Olomukoro of the Delta State Hospital Management Voard, Ozoro, delivering a paper titled: Post Retirement Plan: The Journalist Perspective.

    An associate Dean, Students Affairs, DELSU, Dr. Emmanuel Ufuophu-Biri Emmanuel and Chigozi Eti, a lecturer in Journalism and Media Language at the Babcock University, Ogun State, taught on ‘Writing for the New Media: Strategies, Challenges and Prospects and Brand Story Telling respectively.

    Other presenters included Kalu Treasure, a multimedia consultant and Dr Charles Edeogu, who presented a paper on ‘Social Media as Tool for Advancement in Journalism Practice in the 21st Century and Proposal Writing and Feasibility Paper Development respectively.

    There were also goodwill messages from the Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan; Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah; the Agadagba of Egbema Kingdom, HRM Tiemo Binipre III and others.

    Governor Uduaghan, who was represented by Mr Linus Chime, Press Secretary (Warri), described the training as apt. He said the governor would cooperate with the union in advancing professionalism, stressing that it was in the interest of government to have a well trained and objective press.

    Speaking in the same vein, Ogeah who was represented by Mr Paul Osahon, commended the NUJ for the initiative and urged journalists in the state to be factual and objective in their reports.

    For his part, Chief DM Bubor, who represented the Egbema monarch, commended the press for being the hope of the common man. He said journalists have made more sacrifice in the fight for Nigeria’s democracy.

    The seminar ended with a closing ceremony held at the Poolside of Godatin Hotel, Enerhen venue of the programme.

    The chapel Vice, Comr Joe Ogbodu, and other members of the chapel described the training as apt and relevant to the present realities they face in the job.

    “I have learnt a lot, not only on how to do my job well, but also how to prepare for life after retirement,” Ogbodu added.