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NGE Tasks 36 New Members, 15 Fellows On Objective Reporting …As FG Assures Prosecution Of Electoral Offenders

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has inducted 36 new members and 15 members as Fellows of the Guild.
The induction followed a Gala Night organised, last Saturday, for the Guild by Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, to conclude the 18th All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) 2022 in Owerri.
In his address, Uzodinma called for stronger ties between the media and the political class to usher more development.
The governor said democracy had proven to be the best form of governance anywhere in the world.
“It is also given that for democracy to triumph, the political class and government cannot do much without the media.
“All I ask of you is the understanding of the essence of democracy in any jurisdiction.
“I ask of you to understand the need to protect our land, national interests, be focused and objective, and for us to create a convivial environment for every stakeholder to contribute to national development,” he said.
Uzodinma also urged the media and editors to change and correct the wrong perception and narratives being created about Africa by foreign media.
He expressed consternation that Nigeria’s democracy was still described as “nascent’’ even after many years of uninterrupted democracy.
“I want to plead with you to take courage; it may not look like what you are expecting, but there is hope for Nigeria.
“We must stop spending money and energy lamenting on the nation’s problems, but rather proffer solutions,’’ he stressed.
The governor, who described himself as “the most blackmailed politician in Nigeria’’ also called for objective thinking and reportage as well as constructive criticism of his administration.
In his remarks, President of the Guild, Mr Mustapha Isah, commended the lofty projects executed by the governor, particularly the 33-km Owerri-Orlu Road; 28-km Owerri-Okigwe Road, and the state-of-the-art House of Assembly complex.
Isah urged the governor to remain focused and disregard the antics of detractors.
The president also advised the governor to spread the money of the state in providing for the elderly people.
Speaking on their observations after a tour of projects executed by Uzodinma, a Fellow of the Guild, Barrister Ajayi Gbadebo, urged the governor to sustain his tempo of development.
Gbadebo, who lauded the road infrastructure, particularly around Imo State Polytechnic, Omuma, appealed to the governor to ensure that water runs at the teaching hospital in Orlu.
The Executive Director of DAAR Communications Plc., Mr Imoni Amarere, shared Gbadebo’s views.
He urged the governor to sustain efforts in developing the rural areas.
The inducted Fellows of the Guild included former NAN Editor-in-Chief, Mr Alli Hakeem and Dr Reuben Abati, former Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Some others are former Managing Editor of New Nigerian Newspapers, Eze Victor Awogu and Lagos State qCommissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso.
Earlier during the executive session of the 18th All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) 2022, last Friday, the Editors had stressed the need for Media Independence and Security to achieve fair, factual and objective Journalism.
In his contribution at the executive session, the Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Newspapers, Martin Oloja, identified the need for financial independence for free, fair and objective journalism.
Oloja stated that because of the loss of financial independence, the media cannot function effectively in monitoring the activities of politicians, especially if they rely on them for sponsorship.
He said this had severely limited the social responsibility role of the press and reduced accountability on the part of the political class.
“The biggest advertisers are those, who we are expected to hold accountable and because proprietors are interested in the survival of their medium, this role is often cast aside,” he said.
Oloja noted that the expectation of the media’s public has not changed, adding that objectivity, fairness and factual reports remained the watchword.
Similarly, the Managing Director of the Sun Newspapers, Mr Onuoha Uke, noted that the media has the responsibility of setting the agenda as the general election approached.
Uke explained that Editors should be given room to play their roles as key stakeholders in the struggle for good governance by ensuring independence of the press is not compromised.
He called for security, free access to election venues and collation centres to ensure transparency and accurate reportage of the entire electoral process.
“The media has played major roles in democracy and has been in the forefront in demanding good governance right from before Nigeria gained independence.
“Journalists have set the pace and been in charge of moulding public opinion and response to topical issues and the present is an auspicious time for setting agenda to fulfill our responsibility of ensuring democracy survives,” Uke noted.
Also contributing, the Publisher of Real News Magazine, Mrs Maureen Chigbo, emphasised the need for proper information to get across to the public for informed decisions.
Chigbo stressed the need for the media to go all out to verify every fact before publishing particularly before, during and after the elections.
She equally urged the public to check the facts and rely on verified media houses and practitioners for accurate reports and take note of pointers to false news.
Chigbo stated that such news reports are often inconsistent, repetitive and poorly scripted and warned against reposting of such reports by the public.
“Information is power and it is my hope that the public has access to true information, because of this, the media should ensure balance and objectivity in their reports and stick to the ethics of the profession to help build a progressive society,” Chigbo concluded.
While delivering a paper on “2023 General Election And Security: What Editors Need to Know”, the National Security Adviser to the President, Babagana Monguno, reassured the readiness of the Federal Government to deal decisively with electoral offenders and ensure they don’t go unpunished.
Monguno, who was represented by the Head of Strategic Communications, Office of the National Security Adviser, Mr Zakari Usman, said, “It is important to note that one of the major threats to security is electoral violence which berths national security.
“We are continuously addressing the security risk from fake news and hate speech and through collaborative efforts.
“The government is working with social media companies to ensure the safety of the 2023 general election,” he said.
Monguno listed eight categories of electoral violence to include party on party electoral violence; party on voter electoral violence; party on state electoral violence and; voter on voter electoral violence.
Others are voter on state electoral violence; state on voter electoral violence; state on party electoral violence and state on state electoral violence.
Monguno, however, said that ensuring security during elections was not the sole responsibility of enforcement agencies alone.
While stating that security and the media hardly agree on what constitutes national security, he urged the media to report their news without amplifying the agenda of detractors sponsoring political insecurity.
“Critical stakeholders in the electoral process including the press must discharge their duties effectively and efficiently in ensuring security during elections,” Monguno added.
The NSA urged the media to be collaborators with the government on issues of national interest by balancing their reports and promoting national unity and cohesion in their reportage.
Monguno, who further urged the media to put in place fact checking system to contend with fake news by citizen journalists, expressed concern over inciting statements by state and non-state actors.
He, therefore, advised the media to take proactive measures to address the proliferation of fake news.
In a presentation at the executive session, Imo State Governor, Senator Governor Hope Uzodinma, commended the fair and objective reporting style of journalists in the country, saying it has contributed to his administration’s successes.
Uzodinma thanked the Editors for their role in the buildup to the elections that saw his emergence as governor, and urged them not to relent in the discharge of their professional responsibilities.
He called on Editors to find time to tour the state so as to observe firsthand the achievements of his administration so as to better appreciate the role of the media in people -oriented governance.
Uzodinma listed the achievements to include the revamping of the state’s water scheme, sanitisation of the State’s Civil Service, road construction and rehabilitation as well as an aggressive fight against criminality.
He said that his 3R mantra of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery led to the successful renovation of health centres, resuscitation of the Ada Palm plantation through Public Private Partnership.
He added that he also restored accreditation to the state’s university while dredging the Orashi river and other waterways and training youths on digital skills.
“It is important that you editors use this opportunity to see how far we have gone in delivering good governance. The unique circumstances that fueled my governorship ambition were divinely inspired.
“My ambition was almost truncated by a high level conspiracy but your objective reportage of events really helped the situation,” he noted.
Uzodinma said that his administration provided official vehicles for permanent secretaries and High Court Judges in the state to smoothen the process of service delivery.
According to him, Imo was ready for business as it was once again, secure.
“Imo has regained her lost glory as the hospitality capital of the South-East. We are ready for business.
“Journalists have been kind, fair and objective in telling our story. Together we can do many things “, Uzodinma assured.
The event was attended by Chairman of the conference, Prof. Stella Okunna, and President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mustapha Isah, as well as Editors from the Print, Electronic and Online Media from across Nigeria.
The theme of the ANEC 2022 Conference is, “2023 : Political Landscape, Credible Elections And The Role of Editors.”
By: Nelson Chukwudi
News
Shettima In Ethiopia For State Visit

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
News
RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers

The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
News
Tinubu Orders Civil Service Personnel Audit, Skill Gap Analysis

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.