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IPC Tasks Journalists On Conflict-Sensitive Reporting

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The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, Nigeria, has challenged Journalists and media organisations to uphold the tenets of professionalism in reporting elections in order to maintain peace and social order before, during and after the elections.
The call became imperative following the monitoring and reporting of trends in the coverage of the 2023 electoral process.
Executive Director, IPC, Lanre Arogundade, made the call at the One-Day Media Stakeholders Roundtable On The Monitoring and Reporting Of The Coverage Of The 2023 Electoral Process, organised by the IPC in Partnership with the European Union- Support To Democratic Governance In Nigeria, Phase11(EU-SDGN 11), in Portharcourt, recently.
In his presentation titled, ‘The Imperatives on the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage in Reporting the 2023 Electoral Process’, Arogundade noted that one of the challenges faced by Journalists was the attempt to inject their personal views and emotions in their reportage.
He urged Journalists to strive for factual, rather than opinionated reporting, particularly in election matters.
According to him, the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage described Journalists as the ‘Key Purveyor of Information on the Electoral Processes’, adding that this makes it imperative for them to adopt best professional and ethical standards, and imbibe the principles of Conflict-Sensitive Journalism in the reporting of the general elections.
He said: “To this end, all Journalists and other media professionals on election duty should report only factual electoral information in a fair and balanced manner, report the views of candidates and political parties directly and in their own words, while exercising necessary professional discretion rather than as they are interpreted by others and also refrain from disseminating misinformation and disinformation”.
While presenting the earlier launched IPC Safety and Professional Advisory for Journalists, Arogundade noted that the centre was concerned about the safety of accredited journalists and other media professionals essentially on frontline duty during elections.
He revealed that the Advisory tasked the government, particularly the law enforcement agencies and political parties, to take as priority the protection of journalists and provision of enabling environment for them to perform their onerous responsibility.
“We particularly call on all law enforcement agencies that will be on election duty and subsequently, to refrain from threatening, molesting, arresting or detaining any of the 10,000 journalists who have been duly accredited by the INEC to cover the elections”, he said.
Earlier in her Welcome Address, the Communication Officer, IPC, Ms. Olutoyin Ayoade, observed that there were remarkable cases of reports that were conflict-insensitive and capable of inciting violence in the Nigeria society.
“The investigation also revealed that while most of the analysed reports met the required standards of sensitivity in reporting, a few did not meet the expectations. These reports were therefore adjudged insensitive”, she said.
Ayoade stated that the roundtable was in pursuant to the aims and objectives of Component 4: Support to Media of EU-SDGN 11 Project implemented by the Lead Partner, IPC, and the Institute for Media and Society (IMS).
She said the programme was to further enhance the Nigerian Media roles in promoting democratic governance through fair, accurate, ethical and inclusive coverage of electoral processes and elections in Nigeria.

By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu & King Onunwor

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NSE Members Tasked On National Dev

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Members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, have been urged to work hard towards contributing to national development. This call was made at the recent induction of new members by the Port Harcourt branch of the Society. The induction ceremony was used to formally welcome new members and celebrate its elevated new fellows.
Speaking during the ceremony held a in Port Harcourt, the Branch Chairman, Engr. Idaeresoari Ateke Harriet, FNSE, called on members of the NSE to actively participate in the Society’s professional and technical activities in order to contribute meaningfully to national development. He congratulated the new inductees, describing their admission as a testament to their hard work and resilience.
Engr. Ateke also commended the new Fellows for their immense contributions to the engineering profession, reminding them that their elevation is a call to greater responsibility as mentors and role models.
The event featured a lecture by Engr. Prof. Steve Odi-Owei, FNSE, on “Opportunities and Challenges in Nigeria’s Blue Economy.” The Chairman noted that Nigeria’s maritime and aquatic resources remain largely untapped, adding that engineers have a crucial role to play in harnessing these resources for economic growth and environmental sustainability.
He thanked the first female President of NSE, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, other dignitaries, sponsors, and families of inductees for gracing the occasion.
Also, engineers, especially those in Rivers State have been advised to adhere strictly to the core ethics of the profession and to always uphold the professional ethics of the body.
This advice was given by an engineering expert, Basoene Benibo, in an interview with at the sidelines of the  induction ceremony and Fellowship celebration of the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
Benibo stressed the need for young engineers in the state to learn and improve on their skills by tapping from the wealth of experience of older professionals in the field to enable them excel.
 Benibo, who is a one-time Chairman of the Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, also noted and hailed the efforts of the society in eliminating quackery in the engineering profession.
Some of the new fellows include Prof Jackson Akpa, Pereowei Jose’s and Telema Osima, while the inductees, Engr Mrs Lizzy Onwuso, Engr David Jonathan jnr and Worlu Emmanuel expressed joy in being found worthy to become full NSE members, believing that it would enable them have access to more knowledge, practice rightly and impact the society positively.
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VALVA Restates Commitment Education Advancement, Literacy In Nigeria

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The President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Dr. Dominic Amenaghawon Omokaro, has expressed deep commitment to the advancement of education and literacy in Nigeria through the library system.
Speaking through his state Chairman Dr. Chidara Okachukwu Nyemezu, at the formal Launching/inauguration of the Vanguard for Library Visibility And Advocacy (VALVA) at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt recently, Omokaro discribed the inauguration of the new body as a significant and  passionate movement aimed at shining the spotlight on one of the underappreciated yet critical institution in Nigeria’s educational system and national development.
“We are gathered here not just to launch a group, but to launch a vision and ignite a movement to reinforce a mission to make libraries visible and valuable again for our people”, he said.
Dr. Omokaro stated that the birth of VALVA is based of the recognition that libraries, particularly school libraries, are the bedrock of  promoting a reading and research culture that includes innovation and lifelong learning in the society, though the system is grossly underfunded and poorly equipped in many cases.
He recalled the theme of its first week under his watch, “Library System for National Development in 2022”, which he hinted was driven by the state chapters.
He explained that the inauguration of VALVA shows an important mission to promote the visibility and development with impact on schools and other libraries through strategic advocacy that will advance quality education and foster lifelong learning culture in Nigeria.
“The vision is clear to promote the visibility where every school and indeed every community will have access to a functional library managed by a professional Liberian”, he said.
Speaking with journalists at the sideline of the event, the founder of the VALVA, Dr. Juliet C. Akex-Nmec, stressed that no society can grow without a functional and  effective library.
She urged government at all levels to ensure the establishment of effective and functional libraries across the country.
Dr. Alex-Nmec, who is also an Associate Professor of Library and Information Science, Rivers State University, called for the appointment of a Special Adviser on Library matters by the state government in order to assist the government on Library matters.
High point of the event was the formal inaugural of the new body and oath of offices to the new executive.
Akujobi Amadi
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Rivers Judiciary Denies Issuing Court Order Stopping SOLAD from Swearing in RSCSC Members

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The Rivers State Judiciary has denied a media report claiming that Justice Frank Onyiri of the State High Court issued an injunction order restraining the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), from inaugurating the newly appointed members of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission (RSCSC).

 

In a statement issued by the Deputy Chief Registrar in charge of litigation at the High Court, Menenen Poromon (Esq), the state Judiciary disassociated itself from the report, describing it as malicious and fabricated.

 

The statement emphasized that the report was a falsehood and a misrepresentation of what transpeared in the court.

 

Poromon clarified that no such order was issued by Justice Onyiri or any other judge of the High Court of the state and urged the public to disregard the information, as it lacked any iota of truth.

 

The statement however advised the public to verify any information concerning the state Judiciary directly from the office of the Chief Registrar, High Court of the State, to avoid spreading of misinformation.

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