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  • Winners emerge in TVC female national debate contest

    Winners emerge in TVC female national debate contest

    Winners have emerged in the TVC Women Network Senior Secondary School Female Championship Debate.

    The competition, exuded oratory, wit and leadership at the second edition of the contest held in Lagos.

    From 107 entries received, five female finalists representing their various schools drawn from different parts of the country slugged it out.

    The event was organised as part of activities to commemorate the 2023 International Day of the Girl-Child and promote gender equality.

    For the TVC women network, the annual debate championship is aimed at empowering young girls to be community leaders.

    President of TVC Women’s Network, Emem Okwoche said: “We are passionate about re-tooling women and the girl-child to make a difference in their endeavours, which in turn contributes to national growth. This, we would not relent till Nigeria is developed to our taste.”

    Also, the Director, People Culture Experience and Operations (PCEO), Kemi Shonubi, said: “We believe by empowering and inspiring women, it will pave the way for a better future. It is about nurturing talents and opening doors for the incredible women in our organisation.”

    Read Also: Winners emerge in TVC female national debate contest

    The debaters were adjudged and evaluated on the basis of eloquence and articulation; relevance of their points to the topic; and grammatical errors.

    The debate centered on the topics: “Is AI a threat to humanity or step further to civilisation” and “Should government/parents regulate the use of social media by children”.

    At the end of the keenly contested battle, a senior secondary student of Al-Hikmah University International School, Hikmah Abdulkareem, emerged as winner, clinching the star prize of N1 million.

    Kalu Glory Virginia of Ransome-Kuti Memorial School and Bliss Ejiofor of Eternal King Comprehensive College emerged 1st and 2nd runners-up, winning N500,000 and N300,000 respectively.

    The judges including Adesuwa Onyenokwe, Victoria Abiola Ajayi, Tunji Sotimirin, and Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade praised the performance of the young female debaters.

  • Winners emerge in TVC female national debate contest

    Winners emerge in TVC female national debate contest

    Winners have emerged in the TVC Women Network Senior Secondary School Female Championship Debate.

    The competition exuded oratory, wit, and leadership at the second edition of the contest held in Lagos.

    Out of about 107 entries received, five female finalists representing their various schools drawn from different parts of the country slugged it out.

    The event was organised as part of activities to commemorate the 2023 International Day of the Girl Child and promote gender equality.

    For the TVC women network, the annual debate championship is aimed at empowering young girls to be community leaders.

    President of TVC Women’s Network, Emem Okwoche, in her remarks, said: “We are passionate about re-tooling women and the girl-child to make a difference in their endeavors, which in turn contributes to National growth. This, we would not relent till Nigeria is developed to our taste.”

    Also, the Director, People Culture Experience and Operations (PCEO), Kemi Shonubi, said: “We believe by empowering and inspiring women, it will pave the way for a better future. It is about nurturing talents and opening doors for the incredible women in our organisation

    The debaters were adjudged and evaluated on the basis of eloquence and articulation; relevance of their points to the topic; and grammatical errors.

    Read Also: Buhari’s documentary to air on Channels, NTA, TVC

    The debate centered on the topics: “Is AI a threat to humanity or a step further to civilization” and “Should government/parents regulate the use of social media by children.”

    At the end of a keenly contested battle, a senior secondary student of Al-Hikmah University International School, Hikmah Abdulkareem emerged as the winner, clinching the star prize of N1 million.

    Kalu Glory Virginia of Ransome-Kuti Memorial School and Bliss Ejiofor of Eternal King Comprehensive College emerged 1st and 2nd runners-up, winning N500,000 and N300,000 respectively.

    The judges including Adesuwa Onyenokwe, Victoria Abiola Ajayi, Tunji Sotimirin, and Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade commended the performance of the young female debaters.

  • Rugalities and insecurities in Nigeria

    Not too long ago, a Nigerian man in diaspora (somewhere in Europe) was trying to educate both the critical mass of our populace and selective demographics of our government workforce, about modern day methods of cattle rearing and domestication with a video of best practices and modules/models of international intelligence standards.

    Also, quite recently, TVC reported on Business Week a case study of best practices, empirically proven to be a successful domestication of cattle being practiced in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria by Rosedale Farm. According to this report, the Zimbabwean farm MD, Irvine Reid, explained the considerable success they have been able to make in cattle domestication and went on to say they were building a factory to produce dairy products.

    Having been furnished with all these internationally and locally practiced efficient modules/models, any cognitively active mind will be riddled with the following questions:

    1. Should Rugalities and the insecurities attached to it ever be a point of National discourse?
    2. Why can’t we adopt these credible modules/models and make life decent for us all through fostering unity and adopting reasonable lasting solutions to satisfy all parties of our heterogeneous national identity?
    3. Why are some people consciously clamouring and agitating for a detour from what seems to be a 21st century normality?
    4. Why are people just afraid to evolve?

    The free-range module/model of cattle rearing is probably good, only but at two lifetimes in our medieval past and not for the present clime and level of universal development. Summative, this model is susceptible to a lot of dangers including difficulty in containing epidemic (either from the host or nomadic demographics), communal clashes which often leads to loss of lives and properties, essentially negating the whole essence of live stocking. The precipitating effects of these clashes are the kidnappings, banditry, robberies, ethnic decimation and/ or even war. Invariably these actions tend to desecrate the socio-economic and moral fiber of our national psychology.

    As much as we do understand the right of free movement of Nigerian citizens but miles above that is the free gift and right to life, which the state swore to protect. Non indigenes shouldn’t infringe on the freedom of movements and rights of indigenous occupiers of a particular settlement in the name of “one Nigeria”.

    We are one Nigeria, only and when we accommodate yet respect our individualities and sacred sentiments. As much as the cattle are important to the herders, the crops are lifelines of the farmers, the cash crops are also economic sustenance for the business population and all these are empirically evident in the National GDP.

    As my dad will say… owo kin fun owo lorun (business is live and let’s live). Our demographic diversity is meant to be an instrument of showcasing our strength and collective resolve to co-exist peacefully, productively and functionally as one Nigeria (as in similar cases with Canada and India) and not a display of diversity mismanagement capabilities through utter ignorance or arrogance to universal standards of normality.

    Closely stifling the nation’s stability are other estuaries of the “diversity abuse” – which includes drug abuse, education and the ever-threatening demographic explosion. These issues are all connected and only genuinely inclusive governance with the nation’s unity (the people) at the center of it can rid us of the impending consequences.

    I am convinced that our policy making arms of government and policy prescribing arms of the society are not completely devoid of credible and true nationalists. That being said, I will implore these relevant arms to handle these issues within the extant of our constitution, taking a cue from world-class, evidence-based modern-day practices.

    • Ogunsanya is a retired officer of the United States Army

  • ‘TV consumers now have a choice’

    As TVC News, a member of TVC Communications, still basks in the euphoria of their brand new high definition news studio, latest mobile satellite technology, sizable team of journalists and producers, which are all  part of the ongoing investment plan to enable the organisation attain its goal of being First With Breaking News and growing the TVC Group of companies into one of Nigeria’s leading media organisations, the Chief Executive Officer, TVC Communications, Andrew Hanlon, in a chat with select journalists provides more insight on the company’s growth plans, amongst others

     Congratulations on your relaunch initiative. We understand it is a total package. Can you tell us what you have set out to achieve with this move? We seek to have a deeper understanding beyond sloganeering.

    The changes we are introducing at TVC News are about more than just aesthetics and marketing positioning statements, the changes go to the very core of the radical transformation which we have embarked upon since TVC Communications was born in 2017.

    Remember what we set out to do back then; we said we would change our products and services to become one of Nigeria’s leading media companies, whose focus would be 100% directed at audiences and advertisers – to offer TV, radio and online services which would have mass appeal in a marketplace which is cluttered with domestic and foreign competitors, all fighting for the same eyes and ears and advertiser budgets.

    But to do that, you have to offer something different, something which is attractive to a sophisticated audience and something which literally stands out from the crowd. If you get that right, then you attract substantial multi-platform audience volumes, and this, of course, is what advertisers want.

    In short; if we don’t have a quality radio and TV offering which has a unique point of difference – then we are irrelevant, and that is something we are not prepared to be.

    Looking at your new tagline, what factors underscore your messaging, considering that you hitherto aspired to be the “first Pan-African news agency”?  Maybe you have outgrown your initial mission!

    TVC News has been a real innovator in Nigeria and it took real courage and commitment to launch the service several years ago, something we are very proud of to this day.

    The service has a real purpose in its short existence to the social and political fabric of Nigeria, but now the time has come for the second part of our evolution.

    Our positioning statement of being First with Breaking News isn’t just a tagline, it is a major promise to our audience that TVC News will be the channel you come to as big stories unfold anywhere in Nigeria.

    To fulfill that commitment, you must be capable of mobilising correspondents and technical teams anywhere, anytime in this vast country, within a very short space of time to get the story on air – and that’s what separates TVC News from other news networks.

    We have invested millions of dollars in live satellite technology and in our people– which we have based right around the country, thus enabling us to broadcast live anywhere at any time which means we are First for Breaking News.

     We understand you brought in new equipment and facilities. What specifically are these and how will they impact on your operations?

    We have just outlined the investment in our people and portable satellite technology which we have dispersed throughout Nigeria, and which enables us to broadcast live, anywhere, anytime. In addition to that, we understand and appreciate that Nigerians expect to be visually engaged by the aesthetic look and feel of a channel. So we have also just purpose built a new state-of-the-art high definition TV studio.

    In addition, we have commissioned a powerful new suite of motion graphics and visual elements to really bring a contemporary and international look and feel to the TVC News channel.

    Nigerians are used to seeing the best from international news channels – we strive for similar excellence and perfection and we think our viewers will really like what we have to offer.

     In the media and communication space, we often hear the maxim – content is everything. Are we looking at seeing fresh content and presentation styles, and maybe new anchors/presenters?

    The freshness of our content will be driven by our ability to be First With Breaking News – that is our maxim, but being balanced and accurate is also crucially important to us and our viewers.

    We have excellent, highly experienced news anchors who will be the faces of the new TVC News, but they will be seen in a totally different and dynamic environment which we believe viewers will find very appealing.

     Are there new market segments which were hitherto underserved and which you believe would be captured now with your rebranding effort?

    In the short number of years that TVC News has been on air we have only scratched the surface of what is possible in respect of mass audience appeal and greater support from our friends in the advertising market – so we are very serious about creating much greater awareness of TVC News.

    Unquestionably, news channels tend to attract slightly more men than women, but we also believe viewers are ready and are open to something that they deem more relevant to their tastes and interests.

    We certainly think we will appeal to an ABC1 market, professionals from different sectors and those who have a big appetite for the varied news stories which Nigeria never tires of providing every day!

     In your conceptualisation and execution, did you ever give some thought to the saying, Failure is an Option? In asking this question, we have DAARSAT, HiTV and COMSAT in mind.

    We are in the business of broadcasting and we do not invest in anything which doesn’t become successful or does not produce a return for us and our shareholders.

    Before we make an investment, we study the market dynamics, the audience data, identify opportunities, we listen to what viewers and advertisers are saying through market research and then we look at that against the investment required to come up with a business model which works.

    We can’t predict the future, but we can use our collective knowledge, experience and expertise to produce a winning formula for the business. We don’t pursue projects if we don’t believe we can succeed!

    Inadequate power supply in Nigeria is a major challenge, meaning that stations have to rely more on diesel generators, a situation that has forced consumers to reprioritise TV. How are you dealing with this condition?

    As part of our investment programme for TVC Communications, we have invested substantial sums to help us overcome the obstacles which so many businesses endure with an unreliable power supply.

    Like so many others in Nigeria, we were forced to examine different power sources, stability and continuity of supply, cost per unit, pollution impact and a range of other matters. We believe we made huge strides in this area having achieved radical reductions in diesel consumption and running costs.

    With large buildings, a big campus with over 400 staff and substantial amounts of technical equipment to run 24 hours a day in need of constant cooling, our power requirements are substantial and costly but hopefully now we will reap the benefits of our energy investment strategy.

    We have so much more to do in this challenging area and we will always try to find new and more cost-effective ways to reduce our energy costs and our impact on the environment.

    Competition in the Nigerian broadcast industry is quite intense. What competitive edge do you think TVC News brings to the market place?

    The most competitive edge you can have in any business is to never assume you know everything and that you have all the answers!

    We believe that the best way to get ahead is to continually connect and listen to our customers (audience and advertisers) through research, data and engagement, and give them what they want and continually try to improve upon it – that is the journey we are right now, but we are still only at the beginning of the road.

    The uniqueness of TVC News will be its ability to break news first and fast, but also to offer balanced and strong editorial content presented in a visually appealing style.

     How will you assess the impact of the last logo on the brand’s equity logo?

    Logos come and go all the time but what remains constant for us, and what is of greatest value to us is the TVC brand, the equity it has built over the years, and our aspirations for it.

    The previous TVC News mark was very identifiable and instantly recognisable, so it did a fantastic job for our business, but tastes and trends change over the years and we felt it was time to introduce a more contemporary look to our identity and to complement the major changes we are introducing on-air with our new studios and on-screen graphics.

    We really hope our viewers and our friends in the advertising business like what we’ve done.

    We are also very proud that the new brand designs for TVC and TVC News were conceived and created by the Nigerian creative design and motion graphics house Evoke in Lagos. Well done guys!

     TVC News recently won the NBC Prize for the “Best Television Station of the Year” at the 26th Nigerian Media Merit Awards. To what will you attribute this milestone?

    Being voted Nigeria’s “Best Television Station” at the prestigious NMMA awards, will be attributed to the hard work and dedication of our amazing, talented and dynamic team of reporters, production staff and management team. Of all the awards to win, this was the one we really wanted, so we are delighted. The trick now is to hang on to it!

    We also believe the award was a recognition that TVC News at 10pm is The Most Watched prime time news show in Lagos every night (bar none) and so this has spurred us on to really innovate and improve our editorial content all the time and to attract more and more viewers to our programmes across Nigeria – but also around the continent on DSTV, in addition to our international audience in Europe and beyond on the Sky TV platform.

     What targets have you set for the organisation over the next five years?

    We want to radically increase our share of viewing / listening and advertising revenue in the Nigerian market.

    We are extremely focused, hard-working and we have a brilliant team of people working together. But we need to attract even more great talent into the business, across all areas, to help us achieve our goal.

    We want the best, the brightest and the most talented and hard-working Nigerian’s to join us in our quest.

    In a few words, how would describe the brand attributes of TVC News?

    We want to be First with Breaking News in Nigeria. We will offer high quality editorial. We will offer editorial you can trust. And we want to be the channel you want to watch.

  • TVC repositions

    Communication is a core element of human existence. It comes in different forms and formats, mainly verbal, nonverbal and visual. It would be particularly hard to imagine a world without some form of interpersonal interaction, better known as communication. The foremost purpose of communication systems is to provide the right information to the targeted audience at the right place and time.

    However, one modern communication format that deserves deeper examination is television. Over the years, television has steadily emerged a central instrument of contemporary economic, social, educational and political organisation and information dissemination. Its pivotal role may be seen in the context of information being a knowledge enabler, a remarkable derivative from the famous dictum: Knowledge Is Power. Enlightenment, entertainment and education, which underpin television, are key ingredients of social change. A well-informed society is imperative for development and advancement.

    In a developing country like Nigeria, the function of television in forging national integration and development cannot be over-emphasised. Unlike other media audiences, television appeals to a wider variety of groups cutting across age groups, literate and illiterate, male and female, urban and rural. Television is particularly vital in the socialisation of young people.

    Despite the disruption of social media and mobile phones through provision of instant news, television remains remarkable for reaching a large number of people in a very short time. It has the capacity to bring the world to doorsteps in a matter of seconds. It has made the dissemination of news, information and entertainment achievable on a scale unprecedented in human evolution. It is undoubtedly one of the most versatile audiovisual aids ever developed by man.

    It was unquestionably in recognition of the pivotal role of television in development that TVC News, a member of TVC Communications, recently unveiled a brand-new high definition news studio at its headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria, an upgrade designed to bolster television experience and truly ensure that Nigerians are informed of any major development as it happens.

    The ultimate goal, according to the company, is to deliver news as it breaks from any part of the country; to be First With Breaking News. In pursuit of this mission, the company has made substantial investment in studio operations and mobile digital satellite technology, which positions it to become the home of breaking news for Nigeria, ensuring fast and reliable reporting of news stories whenever and wherever around the federation from its network of news bureaus and correspondents.

    It is projected that from its expanding network of news bureau and correspondents across Nigeria, as well as new programming, TVC News would help in breaking barriers associated with inaccessibility, illiteracy and inadequate trained manpower, which have plagued the country for quite some time.

    Addressing the media at the unveiling ceremony in Lagos recently, Chief Executive Officer, TVC Communications, Andrew Hanlon, said that its improved news service formed part of a substantial ongoing investment plan aimed at growing the TVC Group of companies into one of the country’s leading media organisations.

    “Behind this state-of-the art studio in Lagos lies the real engine of our news operation: a substantial team of journalists, producers and the latest mobile satellite technology spread throughout Nigeria, providing us with the ability to broadcast live anywhere and anytime. This will be put to the test this election weekend as over 80 million Nigerians go to the polls to cast their votes,” Hanlon said.

    He added, “We must be capable of mobilising correspondents and technical teams anywhere, anytime in this vast country, to cover stories within a very short space of time to get the story on air first – and that’s what will distinguish TVC News from other news networks and enable us to be First With Breaking News.”

    In addition, the company has installed a powerful new suite of motion graphics and visual elements which provide a contemporary look and feel to the TVC News channel, produced by the most talented Nigerian professionals.

    The freshness of the channel’s content will be driven by its ability to be First With Breaking News, a pitch only possible with the right personnel and equipment. Being balanced and accurate in news reportage are also crucially important in the new vision.

    In its employ are excellent, highly experienced news anchors who will be the faces of the new TVC News, but they will be seen in a totally different and dynamic environment which viewers will find very appealing.

    In terms of appearance, the various elements have combined to create a distinctive look that is more cinematic and sophisticated, and yet very alluring to ensure exciting television experience that keeps the viewer captivated and glued to the set.

    Also speaking at the event, Director of News, TVC News, Stella Din-Jacob, said, “We are incredibly fortunate to have some of the best people and broadcast facilities in continental Africa which will enable us to bring the highest quality news service to our viewers right across Nigeria, Africa and Europe.

    “Having recently been awarded the coveted NBC Prize for the Best Television Station of the Year at the 26th Nigerian Media Merit Awards (NMMA), we particularly hope that viewers will enjoy our primetime news broadcasts: TVC News at 10pm (The most watched news programme in Lagos at 10pm) and 7pm every weeknight, and to start your day with TVC News Breakfast from 6am-9am every weekday.”

    As part of a formidable emerging media conglomerate, TVC News stands in good stead to explore the resident expertise and talent to accomplish its mission. It is about being creative and innovative with television in order to reach out to a wider segment of society with trending news, delivered as it breaks.

    The TVC Communications Group, to which it belongs, also owns other media outfits, including TVC (pure entertainment channel), Max FM Lagos, Max FM, Abuja and Adaba FM, Ondo. Since establishment in 2007, it has emerged one of the most iconic brands in broadcasting in Nigeria.

    TVC News is a 24-hour Nigerian news channel offering a fresh perspective on African and world events. Broadcasting from Lagos, with offices and correspondents across Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, TVC News brings its viewers the latest news 24 hours a day, telling the news as it is, with reporting that is as fearless as it is informative. Deploying state-of- the-art equipment and using a network of bureau across the country, TVC News team keeps viewers up-to- date with fast, accurate, and relevant information. The 24-hour news channel meets the needs of its audience with objective, accurate and relevant news.

    The new upgrade will, as a major objective, guarantee live, gavel-to-gavel coverage, in-depth reporting and expert analysis of the nation’s most important events as they unfold. There will be interviews with specialists on a wide range of subjects who will provide comprehensive context to trending issues. It has also allowed for more efficiency and streamlining of daily duties.

    The goal of bringing the world live to Nigerian living rooms is gradually getting closer to attainment. TVC News will in due course be assessed by its stated mission.

  • TVC gets new brand identity

    Nigeria’s leading independent television, radio and on-line broadcasting company, TVC Communications, yesterday unveiled a new brand identity for its market leading family entertainment channel, TVC.

    The on-air changes, unveiled on TVC yesterday morning at 7am, are the result of extensive market research among audience and advertisers, which revealed that many believed the channel branding was old fashioned, dull and unreflective of a modern and young Nigeria.

    Chief Executive Officer, TVC Communications Andrew Hanlon said: “Today, we have unveiled a new brand identity, which is reflective of all the key elements identified in that research and is the creation of some of Nigeria’s most talented graphic artists and designers, from both within and outside TVC.

    “Our new brand is reflective of our core audience of 15 to 39 year olds, who are young and modern, ambitious, bright, international in their outlook, yet very much Nigerian and fiercely proud of it.”

    Aside from the new channel marque, viewers will see promos and channel idents, which capture the richness, diversity and ethnicity of Nigeria and its people in highly crafted visuals, shot in 4K digital motion photography, which highlight the country’s youth in traditional tribal costume. In other sequences, TVC viewers will also see iconic Nigerian personalities explaining what “pure entertainment” means to them.

     

     

  • Ending farmers/herders clashes: ‘Government must take the lead’

    A former Secretary to the Niger State government and Professor of Agriculture with the University of Ibadan, Prof. Mohammed Yahaya Kuta has said the Nigerian government must take the lead in the process of addressing constant farmers and herders clashes that is threatening the peaceful coexistence of the country.

    Prof. Kuta who was Chairman of the opening session of the National Summit on Conflict Resolution organised by The Nation newspapers and TVC in Abuja said the government should take practical steps to demonstrate its commitment to putting an end to such conflicts.

    He said if the government is interested in having ranches for herders, it should begin by putting something on the ground for the herders to see, pointing out that if ranching can be successful in other countries, there was no reason why it can not succeed in Nigeria.

    Prof. Kuta said over 80 percent of the Nigerian land mass are currently untilised while less than 20 percent is being utilized.

    He said “Government must take the lead in terms of demonstration. Whatever we want to achieve at the end of this, there must be sign post.

    If you want ranches to come up, why not demonstrate where these herders can see that there is an innovation.

    “We should have a place they can see because like the saying goes, seen is believing. We have seen how it has worked in other climes.

    Botswana is a leading light in terms of the success story, Namibia is another success story, South Africa is another leading light.

    “So, why can’t it happen in Nigeria which unarguably the largest nation, with the largest land mass, with the largest potentials of agriculture and arable land for crop production.

    “Why is it that less than 20 percent of this land is utilized. How do we do something in terms of pastoral development and ranching as well as animals so that this country will stake the lead again and transform the people positively so that the people will be better of.”

    He said further that “world Summit on Communication concluded that Communication is about people and people are very critical mass in human development and therefore, communication initiatives makes the difference. So, we must commend you for adding your voice to the ongoing conversation on conflict mitigation and resolution.

    “Within this year alone, the sir Ahmad Bello memorials Foundation has organised two sessions with different stakeholders on the same subject matter and concluded that the ongoing conversation must continue until we get to the end of the matter.
    “So, for you to bring all these stakeholders together as concern people to come and talk about the subject matter especially given the climate of herders farmers conflict is commendable.

    He stressed that in all discussions and meeting to resolve farmers and herders clashes in the country so far, Agriculture Extension workers have not been included, adding that these are the critical stakeholder that should be carried along in the entire process.

    “But there is a missing link. When discussion about agriculture takes place, those agriculture extension workers are always missing and those are the key stakeholders. They are well trained in the act and principle and strategies of relating with the key actors.

    “So, next time when discussions on this are taking place, agriculture extension must be given priority so that we will not continue to talk to ourselves without the real professionals who will help bring about the desired result.”

  • TVC partners BBC News

    Prominent Nigeria’s broadcasting organisation, TVC Communications has announced a major programme output deal with BBC News.

    The agreement will enable TVC News and TVC; the two television channes operated by TVC Communications to broadcast 368 hours of BBC News focus on Africa for a period of two years, effective May 2018.

    A statement from TVC Communications says the deal is bringing “superior quality, ground breaking documentaries, lifestyle programmes, youth news, sports features and finance programmes broadcast on TVC Communications 24hour news channel, TVC News and the family/general entertainment channel TVC.”

    According to TVC Communications Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Andrew Hanlon, the landmark deal “forms part of a major on-going investment in our TV and radio business with the aim of dramatically enhancing services to audiences and advertisers alike.”

    He noted that the company is undergoing a positive change which is now delivering benefits to all stakeholders.

    Director of the BBC World Service, Jamie Angus said the  deal will see more people in Nigeria getting access to brilliant BBC News content, adding that “the World Service delivers accurate, impartial and independent journalism to all countries.  We spot the stories, see the patterns and make sense of the world.”

    Programmes included in the deal include Investigation, Sport, Business, Health, and

    Children’s TV show,  a programme planned to give African children a voice and connect them with youngsters from around the world.

  • INEC registration: Bello stirs fresh controversy, picks TVC at his Okene ward

    INEC registration: Bello stirs fresh controversy, picks TVC at his Okene ward

    Governor  Yahaya Bello of Kogi  State, yesterday  triggered a fresh controversy about his status as a registered voter when he obtained a Temporary Voter Card (TVC) at his Okene Ward.

    Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, the Director-General, Media and Publicity to the governor, confirmed this in a statement he issued and circulated among media houses in Lokoja.

    Fanwo said that the issuance of the TVC to Bello was sequel to a form he filled, seeking the transfer of his Permanent Voter Card (PVC) to Okene.

    “The governor had been on the issue of the transfer for long. He is excited it has finally been done by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    “Yes, his card has been transferred to his polling unit at Okene. The governor is a law-abiding leader who will continue to follow due process,” Fanwo said in the statement.

    The issue of Bello as a registered voter before the 2015 general elections has been a subject of public interest and currently in court for decision.

    Bello had registered afresh in Lokoja, Kogi State, on May 23, 2017, but INEC swiftly described the governor’s action as illegal and unconstitutional.

    The commission  alleged that Bello was involved in double registration, claiming that the governor had earlier registered at Wuse, Zone II, on Jan. 30, 2011.

    For their involvement in the governor’s alleged illegal registration in 2017, a senior official of INEC was retired compulsorily from service while two other personnel were summarily dismissed.

    Attempts to get the State INEC office to comment on the governor’s latest action proved abortive as many calls to the mobile phone of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof James Akpa, did not connect.

    However, The Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Mr Ahmed Biambo, when contacted, promised to call back but failed to do so.

    Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged INEC to  explain the mystery surrounding the collection of a TVC by Bello.

    Mr Dickson Achadu, the PDP Director of Research and Documentation in the state, in a statement, insisted that the governor was culpable having registered twice in Abuja in 2011 and in Lokoja in 2017.

    “INEC must come clear with what is happening and the circumstances surrounding the governor’s double registration, most especially that the governor has been dragged to court, having allegedly registered twice as even being alleged by INEC.

    “INEC must reassure citizens of its readiness to conduct a free, fair and credible poll in 2019 as the governor’s action is making it lose public confidence.

    ” It is unimaginable that having confessed to not being able to transfer his permanent voter card before 2015 and the governor’s second registration held in Kogi Government House, Lokoja, INEC can still participate in the drama that took place at INEC office in Okene today,” the statement said.

  • Hate speech: FG will not stifle the Press – Minister

    Hate speech: FG will not stifle the Press – Minister

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said the Federal Government will not make any law or directive that will stifle the press in its ongoing fight against hate speech and fake news.

    The Minister gave the assurance on Monday in Lagos when he paid a working visit to the Headquarters of TV Continental (TVC)

    Mohammed described as fake news, the alleged directive from National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) regulating phone-in programmes and Newspaper review on TV and radio programmes.

    He said there was no directive whatsoever from NBC or his office to any media house, regulating phone-in programmes and newspaper review as reported in the media.

    The Minister recalled that there was a brainstorming meeting among stakeholders including NBC, media owners and others in Lagos where issues affecting the industry were discussed.

    He said it was one of the participants at the meeting that leaked out the issues raised, which were never adopted as government directive or policies.

    Mohammed reiterated that “no government that stifles the press, ever succeeds” and the Federal Government will not make laws or issue directive to gag the media.

    He said the position of the government has been and still remains that the industry should regulate itself.

    He, therefore, underscored the need for media houses to discharge their responsibilities in accordance with the dictates of their guiding codes to check the alarming rate of hate speech and fake news.

    He said many Nigerians relied on newspaper review on radio and TV as their source of news daily and such review should, therefore, be done from the holistic perspective.

    The minister also underscored the need for media houses to regulate the calls received during phone-in programmes to checkmate opportunists from using such avenue for hate speech.

    The Minister said that the Government would not make any new laws to tackle the challenge of hate speech because there are enough provisions for it.

    He said the Anti-Terrorism Act 2011 defines hate speech amongst others, as an act deliberately done with malice and which may seriously harm or damage a country or seriously intimidate a population.

    Reacting to why there was upsurge in incidents of hate speech and fake news in the country, the Minister said that the purveyors were being paid with stolen funds to whittle down the anti corruption stance of the government.

    He added that the upsurge was also about the 2019 general elections, to whittle down the many achievements recorded by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    He reiterated that no amount of hatred would obliterate the solid achievements recorded by the Administration.

    The Chief Executive Officer of TVC, Mr Andrew Hanlon thanked the Minister for the visit.

    NAN reports that the Minister also featured on a live interview programme of the station.