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The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) is set to partner with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) to checkmate quacks and promote professionalism in the media industry of the country.
The NUJ National President, Mr Chris Isiguzo made this known when a delegation from NIPR led by its president, Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo visited the NUJ National Secretariat on Wednesday in Abuja.
Isiguzo said that the NUJ and NIPR were worthy partners in Project Nigeria, adding that they had reasoned and visited places to ensure that they built Nigeria.
According to him, there is no any professional group that has not got its fair share of quacks, adding that NUJ has taken the matter very seriously.
He said it was regrettable that people who do not have anything to do with the media were appointed into media-related positions and organisations.
The NUJ President said the union had established mechanisms for checking quackery in the profession in the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory.
“This is because there are people who tend to bring shame and bad names to the professionals.
”
Isizuzo reiterated that the union was doing a whole lot, adding that with NIPR joining in the struggle, something better would be achieved.
“We have started taking steps to address these anomalies as the case may be; the NUJ, Nigerian Guild of Editors and Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria have really formed a very strong partnership.
“Now we are bringing Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) on board; I think the NIPR should equally join us so that it would be a collective effort, and all of us speaking in one language.
“So I assure you that in our next engagement, NIPR will be equally and adequately represented, so that we can operate together.
“However, before long, we are going to come up with a framework on media practice, even though we have laws, most times we don’t understand what is in those books.
“For NUJ, we are still thinking that we can come up with something that can work for us, where we would be able to regulate ourselves to a very large extend.
“We are also working on the Journalism Enhancement Bill, which if passed into law would enable us check the activities of quacks and social media operators who spread fake news,’’ Isiguzo said
On development journalism, he said that had been his mantra since he became the president of NUJ.
“I have always stressed the need for us to practice the journalism that builds and not the one that pulls down.
“This because, no matter what we do, there is only one country that we can call our own, which is the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We cannot continue to pander to the wings and caprices of political actors, whose mission and interest most times is not nationalistic but individual and that has been our pain,’’ he said,
Isiguzo explained further that with perception managers and information managers coming together to set the right agenda, Nigeria’s future remains bright.
He emphasized that journalists should begin to assert their authority in agenda setting, stressing that when they set the right agenda, “the country flies with it and verse versa”.
“So this is not the time to apportion blames; as journalists and perception managers, we should come together and build our country because the integrity of this nation is very important.
“We must begin to discuss Nigeria, not on religious lines but competence and capacity and the one that has the magic wand to turn around the country for good.
“We may not be excited about where we are today, but we are better than the United States at this level, because, when they were where we are today, their condition was worse than us,’’ Isisguzo said.
Speaking earlier, Sirajo said NIPR executives were at the National Secretariat of the NUJ on a fraternal visit and to underscore the fact that the two professions – journalism and public relations needed come together.
According to him the togetherness becomes necessary, especially at this point in the history of the country when things need to improve tremendously.
“For a long while the NIPR has been on a single minded mission to ensure that professionalism takes root in the media and public relations sectors.
“If you look at our general setting, most people who parade themselves as perception managers, media gurus, etc, but when you look deep, you will discover that they are quacks.
“We are here to see how we can partner with NUJ to see how we can weed out quacks in these two professions and also enhance adherence to the code of ethics and professionalism.
“I want to appreciate the NUJ on tackling quackery, but however, we need to do more and give our profession the golden place they deserved,’’ Sirajo said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that present at the occasion were Shuaibu Liman, National Secretary of NUJ, the FCT Council Chairman, Emmanuel Ogbeche, and his Secretary Ochiaka Ugwu, Nasarawa State Council Chairman and his Secretary Salihu Mohammed Alkali and Sunday John respectively and some other NUJ officials.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Wikki Tourists Football Club of Bauchi on Wednesday in Abuja defeated Kwara United FC of Ilorin to advance to the round 16 of the ongoing 2022 Aiteo Federation Cup competition.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the round of 32 match was played at the FIFA Goal Project pitch of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
Wikki Tourists won 4-3 after a penalty kicks shootout which followed a 1-1 draw at full time.
Alao Dabani of Kwara United had opened scoring in the 10th minute of the game, while Victor Dawa drew Wikki Tourists level in the 35th minute.
Speaking after the match, the coach of Wikki Tourists, Kabiru Dogo, said he was happy his team have now moved to the next round of the competition.
“The two teams played a good match, and that is why we needed a penalty shootout to determine the winners.
“My players did well, and I thank them because they fought hard to excel during the penalty shootout and they also worked very well during regulation time.
“But we thank God that we are the better side, and victory is ours,” he said.
Dogo however said they would go back and prepare for the next level of the competition.
“We will go back home and prepare for the next game which must also be a win on our favour,” he said.
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NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The National Population Commission (NPC) says it has conducted a successful trial census in nine local government areas of Sokoto State.
Alhaji Chiso Dattijo, the Federal Commissioner representing Sokoto state, made this known to newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday.
Dattijo said that the exercise was conducted in three selected LGAs in each of the three senatorial districts of the state.
“We have been able to conduct a successful exercise in nine selected District Areas across nine LGAs between July 27 and July 30.
“The result of the exercise is highly confidential and will give comparative analysis of the trend being proceeded.
“However, it is expedient enough not only to start planning for the forthcoming population and housing census which is scheduled to take place in April 2023, but to review the activities carried out.
“Therefore, it is our hope that the trial census message will be taken to the lower levels most especially by the district and village heads, as well as other opinion leaders in the state.
“This is in order to ensure that everyone is reached.
Indeed our tasks demand nothing less,” he said.
The commissioner lauded the Sokoto State Government, Sultanate Council and the people of the state for their support and cooperation throughout the exercise.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the NPC conducted the exercise in Shagari, Tureta, Tambuwal, Silame, Wamakko, Sokoto South, Rabah, Wurno and Gwadabawa local government areas.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Ode-Irele community in Irele Local Government area of Ondo State went agog on Wednesday following the selection of Prince Ademola Olowoyiribi as the new traditional ruler of the town.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the kingmakers had selected Olowoyiribi from the Orunbemekun Rulling House, as the new Olofun of Ode-Irele kingdom.
The community had been without a traditional ruler for five years following the death of Oba Olarewaju Lebi.
Addressing the residents and kingmakers, Prince Adefemi Olowoyibi, a member of the Orunbemiku Ruling House, said indigenes of the town were happy that the community would once again witness rapid development.
Olowoyibi said descendants of the town have resolved, by their show of love, to move the community forward.
He noted that the selection process was ranchour free, and with a new king in process, the community would be able to perform rituals for the development of the town.
He said that the community had not been all that peaceful because all the rituals that were supposed to be done regularly could not be done due to the absence of a king.
“My people, today is a joyous day for all of us, nobody is fighting; we now have a king that will bring development and progress to the town(Ode-Irele).
“Everyone is going about their normal business, this is the eighth day that our king has been performing the ritual rites that will usher him to the throne.
“I beg all of you, both young and old to continue coexisting in a peaceful manner that we have been doing since,” he said.
Also, the Orunbemiku of Ode-Irele, Chief Moses Faniyi, said the community was happy with the process, urging indigenes to come together and support the new king for the town to grow.
According to Faniyi, the large number of residents at the selection venue shows the level of acceptance of the king-elect and that he is the popular choice of the three ruling families and the community.
Also speaking, the head of Akingboye family, Chief Taiye Akinboye, hailed the selection process and the support that the new king was receiving from the indigenes of the community.
Akingboye prayed that the reign of the new traditional ruler would be favourable and filled with blessings for the community.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Ogun Assembly has screened commissioner-nominees with a renewed charge to render more service for the socio-economic development of the state.
Mr Olakunle Oluomo, the Speaker, said this while presiding over the screening exercise.
Oluomo noted that those nominated were professionals and party men and woman, who had been adding values to governance in the state.
He said that the nominees were expected to do more upon confirmation by the assembly and swearing-in by the governor.
The speaker in company of other lawmakers urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them through the formulation of ideas and people-oriented projects that would benefit the citizenry.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the commissioner-nominees included Mrs Adijat Adeleye-Oladapo; and Messrs Taiwo Oludotun, Hamzat Ganiyu, Ola Oresanya and Abayomi Hunye.
In their responses, Adeleye-Oladapo and Oresanya, assured of a more dedicated performance in assignments entrusted in their care.
They stated that the state had a perfect eco-balance through vegetation and forests that created good ecosystem.
NAN reports that the assembly also screened members of statutory commissions, whose names were transmitted to the legislative arm for screening and approval by the state governor.
Those screened were, Messrs Adeleye Ademola for Teaching Service Commission; Onadeko Onamusi, for House of Assembly Service Commission; Mr Nurudeen Aina and Mrs Adesola Elegbeji for the Judicial Service Commission.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
No fewer than 400 secondary school students on Wednesday graduated as Comprehensive Life-Skills and Health Education (CLHE) peer educators in Oyo State.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the students were drawn from 24 schools including Oke-Bola Comprehensive School, Oke-Ado High School and Adem Group of Schools, Ibadan.
The CLHE is organised by the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) in collaboration with the Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
Speaking at the ceremony in Ibadan, the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Mr Rahman Abduraheem, said young people were faced with multiple challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive health information and services.
Abduraheem was represented by Mrs Felicia Oyerinde, the Deputy Director (Schools) of the Oyo State Ministry of Education.
He said they were more susceptible to poor reproductive health outcomes which could be attributed to inadequate or wrong information, poor guidance gotten from close associates.
Abduraheem said addressing challenges such as teenage pregnancies, school drop outs, drug use,among others needed a more concerted efforts of all concerned stakeholders.
To this end, he says CLHE is a carefully developed curriculum closing the gaps existing in the former family life curriculum with provision of appropriate information, consistent with the evolving capacities of young people.
“It enables young people protect their health, well-being and dignity, it delivers a right based gender focused approach to sexuality education.
“The programme helped the graduants to develop self esteem, life skills that encourage critical thinking, clear communication, responsible decision making and above all, respectful behaviour.
“The knowledge should be improved upon, challenged, increased and shared with your mates both at home and school to get desired results,” he said.
Also, the PPFN Regional Coordinator, Mrs Elizabeth Abimbola, said PPFN is a leading NGO in the provision of sexual reproductive health and rights including family planning and HIV.
She added that over 60 per cent of Nigerian population is made up of adolescents and young people and the challenges of these age groups can not be over emphasized, ranging from unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, sexually transmitted infections, gender based violence, genital mutilation among others.
Abimbola said the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE)manual taught in schools was found not sufficient as it is being affected by religion, social and cultural factors among parents, adolescents and teachers in the community.
She said PPFN therefore reviewed the manual and upgraded to CLHE manual which comprises seven modules.
Abimbola said the new manual was being piloted in FCT, Oyo and Kaduna states.
According to her, the programme aimed at creating awareness and teaching correct, age appropriate information and quality services on sexual reproductive health and rights among adolescents in schools and out of schools.
“With the permission of the Oyo State Ministry of Education, earlier this year in January PPFN trained 24 teachers from public and private secondary schools in Ibadan South-West LGA.
“These teachers during the session have trained over 400 students who are graduating today as peer educators in Adolescence CLHE with few varieties including quiz.
“Presentations of gifts were given to 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions schools which are Oladipo Alayabde School of Science, ROCHAS FOUNDATION School and St. Paul’s Anglican College respectively.
“Some of the benefits of these interventions were that students are well informed on Sexual Reproductive Health than before as demonstrated in the highly keen quiz competition.
“There is also improved access to reproductive health services by adolescents and parents in PPFN clinic, among several other benefits,” she said.
Abimbola also remarked that 700 students were enrolled in 24 secondary schools and 400 students completed the modules.
“This is just the beginning, we are scaling up to other LGAs and states with in the federation,” she said.
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NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has pulled down trees and shanties at a forest in Pasali along Kuje-Gwagwalada road, suspected to be a haven for bandits and other criminal elements.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Department of Development Control and Sanitation executed the demolition on Wednesday.
The FCTA had earlier warned of plans to remove illegal structures along the Tipper Garage and Kuje-Gwagwalada road axis.
The Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT minister, Mr Ikharo Attah, told NAN after the exercise that the aim was to clear the area of illegalities and restore approved masterplan.
“We have reclaimed the vegetable market and others which have been taken over by other people.
“The Minister of FCT and the Commissioner of Police are fully aware of the exercise, and we will continue to reclaim the areas designated for special purposes,” he said.
He explained that some of the structures had been marked for long and adequate publicity was given to the general public.
“We have seen that there is heavy roadside trading, illegal attachments, expansion towards the road and indiscriminate roadside markets.
“We have assessed the situation and have notified the general public before now, this is why the exercise will continue,” he explained.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Executive Director, Glisten International Academy, Mr Abba Saidu, has called on the Federal Government to focus more on standadised education to give leeway to students in the phase of insecurity.
Saidu was speaking in Abuja on the sideline of the graduation ceremony, prize and award presentation of the school.
The theme of the ceremony is tagged ” Exponential Visibility: Breaking the Glass Ceiling.
He said that the insecurity in the country had resulted into the shut down of schools, while calling for alternative options of learning online to keep students abreast of knowledge.
According to him, we all have to stand up and say no to insecurity.
I think enough is enough.
We are tired of all these things and we cannot continue like this.
” For those that are fortunate and are quite rich, their kids can afford to go to school anywhere but here why can’t we have education.
Education should not just be when school is opened, we can go online.
” Our government should make it a policy on high bred schools , it is high time we all woke up whether there is ASUU strike or not, there should be people that are willing to provide right education to the people .
” It is high time we focused our minds and redirect ourselves to know that we can still learn, especially with the internet but we can standadise all these things.
” If government can focus and have a standardised education so that people can have a curriculum and still learn without being tutored,” he said.
He advised the graduands to remain resilience and be communicative to have more 21st century skills to navigate the present challenging time.
Also, the Chief Care Professional of the school, Mrs Prisca Godwill , who said that the school graduated 83 pupils both in the early years and basic class, advised them to remain focused and determined to achieve their goals.
Godwill said that insecurity had limited physical interaction of students and as such hindered the social lives of the students.
” The security situation is really sad because I remembered in our days, we had peace all round and it did have an effect on our educational system that is socially.
‘ Now, technology has made it a bit easy that people can even learn from home and anywhere they are.
During the COVID, we have students that were learning online and In Glisten, we don’t have that problem.
” Socially, the children need to interact with one another and so they are being denied this opportunity and you know they learn from each other as no one is a custodian of knowledge.
So, that aspect of life is taken away from our children.
” It is very sad our country is going through security problems, I do hope that the government will be able to proffer a solution to actually address the security issues to bring the children back to the four walls of the classroom,” she said.
Some of the students who also spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) were filled with joy as they celebrate their last day in school with other friends.
A year six student of the school, Sskina Mustapha, promised to do better academically throughout her secondary education.
” I have experienced a lot of difficult tasks in my primary school days but I passed them.
I intend to achieve all my grades and get things right in my future endeavour,” she said.
Also, Mr Ananze Pwasolve, promised to continue to make his parent proud as he transit into secondary school.
” It has been very good and full of enjoyment learning and I made many friends throughout.
I want to be someone great in the future so I can make my parent proud,” he said.
Highlights of the ceremony witnessed award presentation to outstanding performances for the academy year and also a dinner for the JSS 3 students of the school.
Fatimah Bello clinched the overall best in the year six, while Williams Dunu and Hamza Abubakar came second and third position respectively.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The leadership of the Senate is meeting behind closed-doors with service chiefs over the lingering security situation in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that present at the meeting are the Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen. Faruk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff; Vice Adm. Awwal
Gambo, and Chief Air Staff; Air Marshal Oladayo Amao.
Others are the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Baba; the Director-General of
Department of State Services (DSS)
Yusuf Bichi; the Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps Dr Ahmed Audi and the Director General National Intelligence Agency (NIA); Ahmed Abubakar.
NAN also reports that the he National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno, was said to be attending the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting when the closed door session held at the Senate.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, said the security challenges had lingered and the Senate had hoped that the situation would have been better.
He said: “this session is to look into where we are today and this current position where we are is most frightening.
This is like there is no where to go.
“We have to review what more we have to do and what differently we have to do.
“Insecurity is everywhere and especially if it is coming to the point of dislocating the security situation where the government is quartered.
“We will really review and see what more we have to do and how differently we have to do.
“Our population is largely peasant.
Most of our people are in the rural areas and they live their lives by going to farms.
We all know this.
In many parts of the country today, that is a herculean task.
“My belief is that we can do better to secure the rural areas, the so-called ungoverned space at least for our population who go to farms to earn their living.
“Where our agricultural productivity is drastically going down, that will complicate the security situation because the most ordinary Nigerian cares more about what he or she or what the family will eat.
And of course, all other things are secondary.
“We have problem with our economy to some extent because of insecurity.
No foreign direct investment or not as much as we would ordinarily attract to our country.
“Our prayer is to start seeing serious, remarkable and dramatic changes from today.
“We hope that our discussions will give us the opportunity to consider other things or other areas or ideas that we didn’t have before,” Lawan said.
In his remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Lucky Irabor said that issues of national security must be seen from a collective perspective.
While noting that quite a lot had happened and quite a lot had been done, Irabor assured Nigerians that the military would do more to improve on the security setting across the country.
“The commitment is there.
No one is leaving any stone unturned in redressing all the imbalances within the security environment.
” he said
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Chief Adebayo Adelabu, a former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has emerged as the governorship candidate of Accord party in Oyo State.
Adelabu emerged the party’s candidate on Wednesday at an affirmation congress of the party held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that this development put to rest the speculations over Adelabu’s next political move after defecting to the party from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Adelabu emerged the candidate of the party after Mr Ayodele Oyajide withdrew his candidature as the party’s governorship flagbearer.
NAN reports that the event was attended by the party’s national executives led by its Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Nalado and a delegation of INEC led by the State Administrative Secretary, Mr Biodun Amosu.
The event was also attended by the party’s National Assembly candidates, Rep. Shina Peller (Oyo North); Kolapo Kola-Daisi (Oyo South); Nurudeen Faozey(Oyo Central);
Mr Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye and Chief Rotimi Ajanaku.
In his remarks, Nalado, urged members of the party to embrace peace and support all the party’s candidates in the 2023 general election.
While handing over the party’s flag to Adelabu, he said that the party was ready to provide the desired alternative in governance.
Also, Prince Kolade Ojo, the State Chairman of the party, urged the people of the state to remain calm, assuring them that the state would experience the best of governance under Adelabu.
Ojo advised the party members to continue mobilising support for the victory of all the party’s candidates in the 2023 general election.
Commenting, Adelabu said that they were prepared to teach the people what democracy and good governance entails.
He called on the people of the state to support him and other candidates of Accord party, promising to take the state to the desired heights.
Adelabu said that victory was sure for all the party’s candidate in 2023, urging members to embark on house-to-house and door-to-door mobilisation.
Peller said that the Accord remained the party to beat in the 2023 general election, adding that they were prepared for victory.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
