Media Group berates harrassment, abduction of Journalists over ABUAD Report
Media Group berates harrassment, abduction of Journalists over ABUAD Report
The National Association of Online Security Reporters (NAOSRE) has warned security agencies against a plot to harass and abduct Idumonza Isidahomhen, the Editor-in-Chief OpenLife, a pan African news magazine, over a report published by his platform.
The association raised the alarm over the alleged plot to arrest the publisher, who doubles as the Public Relations Officer of NAOSRE in a statement on Friday.
The plot to arrest the publisher had come after OpenLife ran a story on alleged fraudulent and exploitative activities carried out at the Afe Babalola University of Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) in the admission and administration of the institution.
In the statement by its National President, Femi Oyewale, the group urged the security personnel to respect journalists as essential service providers and a major partner in the efforts to close the gap between security agencies and the general public in the country.
The association called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba to caution his officers and men against abducting his member.
According to a source, men of the Ekiti State Command of the Nigeria Police Force arrived in Lagos on Friday afternoon with an intention to pick up the publisher in what they addressed as an order from above.
Sources reported that the officers arrived at Lagos command to register their presence in the state.
According to the story on the OpenLife website, parents of students of the University have described the institution as fraudulent and exploitative, for the school to have admitted about 400 students and make them pay so much higher than others when it could only graduate 100 students at the end of six years.
According to a concerned parent who spoke to OpenLife, “ABUAD admitted 400 students for the 1st year, with tuition of N4,000,000, knowing, only 100 could graduate. Now, more than 75% of the students passed the exams and the only option they have is to use tuition fees to drop some students.
“These children have been under stress and tension since day one. Even the first-semester result is not out at this time. How can we be sure the process is purely based on merit? After collecting so much money already you now increase school fees to drive and weed away students.
“Your institution has not done well in this regard. I don’t see integrity and uprightness in these actions” the parent lamented.
ABUAD has a quota from MDCAN of graduating 100 Medical students per annum but they admitted 400 students. This means 300 students which are 75% will not graduate after six years.
According to Professor Ogundipe, the Provost of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, the new fees are as follows: Fresh students (100 level) pre-medicine, N4,557,500, 200 level First Year Medicine, N5,586,000, 300 level Second Year medicine, N5,586,000; clinical students from 400 Level, N4,281,000.
The parent noted with displeasure that the school was too hasty with this announcement for the following reasons; parents were still awaiting the first session of their wards academic performances, and the reasons for increments were not defined nor discussed with other stakeholders.
They claimed no prior notice of increment was given to parents for adjustment or better still, the school did not make alternative arrangement for their wards.
“Your hostels are in a deplorable state, your lecture halls are overcrowded with dilapidated facilities, our children can barely afford food anymore because of the exorbitant prices of your canteens, I cannot visit my children and sit with them.
“Even the lowest of boarding schools allow me to see my children but in a university, I cannot see my children to discuss what is going on with them, they are treated like prisoners.
“Poor food, for sanitation, restricted visitation and many more; I recommend the school to urgently release the first and second-semester results of our wards, to chart a course for further discussion,” the parent had lamented.
NIPR takes Security, Peace Summit to Delta, honors Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa
NIPR takes Security, Peace Summit to Delta, honors Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa
President and Chairman of Council, Mallam Mukhtar Sirajo accompanied by Special Adviser to the Governor on Neighbourhood Watch, Emma Ogidi and other council members on a tour of Delta State legacy projects
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) is set to hold its Dr Sam Epelle Memorial Gold Paper lecture today, Monday, at Asaba, capital of Delta State.
Addressing newsmen after an assessment of some legacy projects of Governor Okowa across the state, the institute’s President and Chairman of Council, Mallam Mukhtar Sirajo hinted of its plans to convoke a summit on security, peace and national integration, as the institute honours Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for purposeful leadership today.
He said that the proposed summit was to strengthen mutual relationships and build trust among the nation’s component parts of the country.
‘’We want to bring back a Nigeria where we will use our diversity for what it was meant by God; as a blessing and opportunity for all of us to come together and bring our individual and collective endowments to the table for the general good of the whole.
According to Sirajo, who was accompanied by Special Adviser to the Governor on Neighbourhood Watch, Emma Ogidi, ‘’This is why it is important to bring Nigerians together for us to talk among ourselves rather than sit in our comfort zones and hauling blames at one another.
‘’So, the Citizens’ Summit on National Integration, Peace and Security is meant to bring the country back to the path of sanity to find out what the problem of the country is.
‘’This will be a journey towards finding genuine solutions to our problems as a people and we believe that communication is a crucial part that we cannot afford to ignore.
‘’We believe that the proposed summit is different from every other conference convoked before now because, NIPR being a profession premised on building, developing and mending relationships, is such that it is suitably placed as a profession that can provide a neutral platform for looking at the relationship problems of this country.
‘’This proposed summit is a citizen-driven initiative; it will not just be done by the NIPR. Although we are driving the process, we are doing so in conjunction with about 60 other organizations, associations and all Nigerians of goodwill who believe that this country has the potential to be great again’’ he said.
Impressed by some of the legacy projects visited, Mallam Sirajo said that Governor Okowa will be invested as a patron of the institute in a Memorial lecture to honour its founding member, Sam Epelle.
Earlier the Obi of Owa, HRM Emmanuel Efeizomor stressed that Nigeria was passing through a phase of its history while recommending the adoption of public relations to addressing the country’s challenges and restoring it to its glory days.
‘’Nigeria should build a new attitudinal projection, work towards the development of human relations. I cannot think of anybody telling me that Nigeria should break; if we break, where do we go to? Countries that have broken, at one point, still seek to come back together’’ the monarch said.
The projects visited include the State Central Secretariat, the Asaba Specialist Hospital (ASH), the storm drainages and the Film Village located in the state capital, and the Teachers Professional Development Centre (TPDC) as well as Federal Road Safety Training School in Owa-Aler
National Security vs Public Right to Know
National Security vs Public Right to Know
By Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada
The Nigerian Constitution grants express permission to the media in section, 22 and 39 of the 1999 democratic amendment, the implication of which allows the media to operate in full capacity of searching, holding and disseminating information, ideas and opinions through the electronic channels and prints (1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria).
Tejuoso, Lanre-Iyanda, and Togunwa (2011) interpreted the above to mean that the interest of the public is best served if free information dissemination is allowed and if citizens would be encouraged to give vital information on issues of public interest.
Principally, the above idea is hinged on the concept of freedom of speech which according to John Milton (1644) “is not an evil to be tolerated but actually a blessing to the life and happiness of any nation”. This freedom of speech subsequently gave birth to freedom of the press.
The essence of press freedom is to guarantee the right to publish freely without censorship or government interference.
Base on the above, the importance of the media to the existence and prosperity of a society cannot be overemphasized. It was this awareness that motivated the assertion of Thomas Jefferson that he would prefer to have a press without a government than to have a government without a press. So, no matter how we choose to twist the media impacts on human environment and endeavours, one thing is sure: there is an ‘umbilical cord’ relationship between the media and other social systems. The media also hold the government accountable to the people being the fourth estate of the realm.
In this understanding, the above references aptly justify why the press requires unhindered freedom to perform its checks and balancing, keeping those in public offices accountable to the people whom they are meant to serve. This justification is found in section 22 of the 1999 Constitution that “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people”. This was further accentuated by the Freedom of Information Act 2011.
However, though the constitution has given an enormous power to journalists through the press freedom firmly enshrined, but then, to come with certain powers are certain obligations and most importantly the administration of such power with uttermost sense of responsibility towards the public good.
Predicated on this, section 45 conditioned the freedom on when it does not undermine national defense, public safety, public order, public morality, or public health and also for the purpose of protecting the rights, reputations and freedom of other persons.
Within this prism, the press freedom is subject to public safety, health and morality. Professionally, the press should be socially responsible to the public. Impliedly, the media have both ethical and professional responsibilities. That is why Babcock (2012) says journalists have both ethical and professional responsibilities.
If we must ask: which is paramount? The public right to know? or the protection of security intelligence from media disclosures as well as preservation of public morality, health and safety?
Critically, the positive and negative effects of the many messages the mass media send out about crime, terrorism and banditry on daily basis sometimes change from holding government accountable to giving criminals free publicity at the detriment of the sacrifices rendered by the gallant security personnel. Media and professionals were perhaps carried away under the philosophy that the people have the right to know.
In view of the spate of insecurity in Nigeria currently, this matter is not purely of academic debate but that of practical concern.
To this, Goldsmith (2008) raised the ancient question of “who is guarding the Guardian” (press)?
No doubt that the media is a democratic desiderata, but how do we make media publications to properly balance public right to know and national security? And when the press err, how do we sanction errant procedures to make the press liable so that the watchdog does not continuously put the whole house on fire.
NATIONAL SECURITY IN DIMENSIONS
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP, 1994) defines national security as human security including such chronic threats as hunger, disease and repression. National security may also “mean protection from hidden and hurtful disruptions in the patterns of daily life in homes, offices or communities”. National security may also be defined as the state of being or making safe secure from danger, etc.
MEDIA AND NATIONAL SECURITY: EXPLORING THE SUSPICIOUS RELATIONS BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE PRESS
Under the Authoritarian system, the government in power controls the media. Within this framework, the purpose of media is to support and advance the government policies and serve the state. The criticism on government machinery is prohibited. In the Libertarian system, media is owned by whoever has economic means to do so.
However, in a democratic setting such as in Nigeria, there seem to have grown- certain aura of suspicion between the state (government/security agencies) and the press during the period of terrorism and other forms of unrest. The media wants to tell the story and the security agencies wants to win the war against crime and criminality. The media wants freedom, no censorship, total access and the capability to get to their audience quickly. The security agencies on the other hand, wants control. Also, the media fears that security agencies might stifle news coverage to enhance their public image or cover up their mistakes. These are fundamental differences that may never change.
It is also a well known fact that terrorists/criminals often leverage on the media’s appetite for sensational report to popularize their nefarious activities and gain relevance in public discussions. Since terrorists/criminals are very much aware of the tremendous strength of the media, they are conscious of the formidable amplification that media reportage adds to any event or issue. This unscrupulous elements need the media to propagate what they do in order to gain public attention. Without such attention in the public space, their activities will lack meaning and the purpose intended. It is rather unfortunate that they often find such free coverage in the media who jump on every images and videos of terror acts to feed the general public, in the name of “public right to know’.
All these brew a level of inconsistence and suspicion between the state agencies determine to end insurgency and other forms of criminality, and the media in the news room so thirsty to break the news.
MEDIA DISCLOSURES OF SENSITIVE SECURITY MATTERS: REDEFINING PUBLIC INTEREST REPORTAGE.
Indeed, some secrecy is essential to both national security and democracy, though excessive secrecy undermines democratic accountability and decision making, and sometimes national security itself. Disclosure decisions in a democracy thus must balance the importance of public knowledge and the risk of exposing and undermining desirable policies or damaging national security master plan.
Before a journalist should go to press, a pertinent question he must ask is that who benefits from this reportage, the government? the people? or the terrorists?
Another critical question is can we regulate the press on what it publishes about sensitive security issues and state secrets on national security?
Prior to this democratic dawn, there was Official Secret Act, 1962 which provided for protection of official information, safeguarding of classified matter, protection of defence establishments, restrictions on photography during period of emergency and control of mail forwarding agencies, etc. (Official Secret Act, 1962). The implication of this Act was to criminalize the release and use of classified materials or state secrets; making it difficult for the press to obtain such information. However, the enforcement of this has been impossible on the press, especially as the Act is majorly focused on civil servants who swore oath of secrecy; and even this has become impossible under the new FOIA.
Away from all the legal doctrines on press freedom and press restrictions over the use of information, scholars have established that media disclosures of national security matters could only be discussed in principles as there is no other solution to the problem of media leaking security information except that the media self-regulate itself. This is because the many statutes that provide for criminal punishment of journalists who print classified information have turned out to be unenforceable. Hence, it could only be suggested that the media is actively involved in maintaining security, peace and stability by laying a practical and implementable outline and policy guides.
The media is expected to preach about media positive discretional regard against endangering innocent lives, encouraging human decencies, and ultimately practicalizing nonpartisan considerations of the national interest. This implies that only the press can self-regulate itself, using professional discretion on what constitutes sensitive security issue and may pose threat to public safety.
Considering that the prevailing paradigm is one of self-regulation, hence, the media must be guided by the orientation of social responsibility, by sharpening its discretion on what is worth publishing and what really constitute a secret, even in the interest of the public.
In modern society, the media can be a lethal weapon against the enemy, and an asset to the populace as well. The role of media in times of insecurity should not just be to project the breaking news in a particular area but to offer a comprehensive picture, encompassing all aspects of the policies of the country.
In Nigeria, insecurity should not be fought by the armed forces alone but the whole nation should be engaged in the economic, scientific, political and social dimensions; made possible through strategic information dissemination of the media (Hali, 2003). The media should be a key component of statecraft, by helping through the attainment of national goals, since they have so much impact on opinion-building of the public (Hussain, 2008).
By this the media will not only shape the perceptions of the public, but also that of the authorities and leaders, which in turn help them to set up policies in line with the demands of the people.
In conclusion, the media must be guided by social responsibility and must possess such nationalistic orientation where the lives and progress of the country becomes the yardstick to measure news quality. Journalism is not about reporting whatever you think is newsworthy, but rather a critical service that requires, in-depth knowledge, due diligence and wisdom. The media can exist without undue coverage or leaks of state intelligence secrets which may threaten national security. Also, it is usually devastating activities to behold the gory images of terrorism on the national TV and dailies. The media coverage of such things empowers the terrorists by giving them undue coverage, public attention international exposure. The media should rather serve the purpose of the state rather than the agenda of terrorists.
Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada
[email protected]
4/09/2021
Veteran Broadcasters to set up Broadcast University in Nigeria
Veteran Broadcasters to set up Broadcast University in Nigeria
As a way to addressing the growing rot in the practice of broadcasting journalism , the First Television Training Centre has concluded arrangement to establish Broadcast University , the first in the country.
One of the Board of Trustees members , Chief Adebisi Adesola , a veteran broadcaster dropped the hints on Thursday at a seminar on Broadcast Media and National Security held at the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
The seminar which was attended by Chief Dele Momodu, Ambassador Yemi Farounbi, and other renowned broadcasters was to enlighten professionals in the industry on the connection between national security and the role of the broadcast media.
The new university ,according to Chief Adesola , a former Secretary to the Oyo state Government (SSG) will raise the bar of the ethical standard of broadcast journalism in the country in view of the growing rot in the industry.
Major General Chris Olukolade retired , a former Director of Defense Information, Nigeria Army,
who was the Chairman of the occasion in his opening remarks , said a society that separates its warriors and scholars, will have its wars fight by cowards, and its thinking by fools.
He noted that the meeting will improve interaction , and promote finest ideals in the society , while stressing the needs for accuracy and professionalism to safe guard national security.
A Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ibadan, Prof. Olawale Albert in his paper titled : ‘Broadcasting and National Security’ urged Nigerians to collaborate in tackling the nation national security challenges.
He lamented that the divergence between how media and the Nigerian state in handling the national security is not encouraging.
He stated that convergence of varying interests become necessary as the nation is currently facing high level of insecurity across the nation.
According to him, national security has been misinterpreted as a regime security, but government should have a true understanding of what national security entails which is mainly protection of it’s citizenry.
He added that the Media also needs to play its own role by holding the state accountable for protection of lives and property.
The don , however, said that there is a need for those who is managing the state to be sincere to national security, and politician should be committed to the tenent of democracy, adding that Nigerian military should also be better train in strategic communication.
The Managing Director, Guardian Newspaper, Dr. Martins Oloja said that broadcasting media is currently suffering in the hands of handlers of Nigerian state
, stating that freedom of expression is not only for journalists, but for all the people.
He maintained that good journalism will produced good government, and failure of the government to provide food and social amenities was responsible for the current threat to national security.
Dangote urges Journalists to Explore business side of Professions
Dangote urges Journalists to Explore business side of Professions
President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has urged journalists to always exhibit a high sense of professionalism and ethical standard in the discharge of their duties as the watchdogs of the society.
Dangote spoke on Tuesday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, at a three-day training sponsored by his company for journalists in the Southwest.
Speaking through the group’s Senior General Manager, Branding and Communication, Mr. Sunday Esan, Africa’s leading industrialist said the role of the journalists is critical in the society as the governed and the government both rely solely on the media for information to engender a better society.
He said journalists cannot afford to be less professional or unethical in meeting the yearnings of the society.
The participants were advised to always look at the business side of their profession while discharging their duties.
Speaking one after another during the training with the theme: The Convergence Journalism, organised by Folio Media and Creative Academy, the resource persons noted that though journalism ethics remain sacrosanct, the practitioners must not lose sight of the marketing side of their job.
A Communication and Brand Management expert, Dr. Victor Ogwezzy, said all employees must make marketing their business for their organisations to survive.
The Director of Special Programmes at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Dr. Jide Johnson, underscored the essence of the media in the society.
A former Managing Editor and a Media Career Development Specialist, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, informed the participants that while some media practitioners still think they are gate keepers, the social media have dismantled the gate and thrown it wide open for access to information.
Also, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Ajibola Basiru, has urged the media to always speak truth to power and expose corruption.
Muzzling the media freedom in a democracy
Muzzling the media freedom in a democracy
by Ademola Orunbon
Of recent, there has been what is apparently a guided and concerted attempt by the President Mohammadu Buhari headed All Progressive Congress, APC, Federal Government’s drive to stamp its control on what is churned out as information within the Nigerian media space as it has become obvious that the administration is not at home with the kind of access Nigerians, both within the already regulated and the unregulated media platforms such as the electronic and print media, and micro-blogging sites – a favourite of the mostly youth population of the country, seems to have. The manner of news reportage in public space is apparently not in tandem with the policy drive of the government of the day, hence the need to reign in such perceived excesses, which have been allowed under the right to the freedom of expression, being a fundamentally guaranteed constitutional right of the citizens of all true Democratic states the world over. It should be recalled that three months ago or thereabout, the media was inundated with the news of the decision by the FG to suspend indefinitely, the functioning of microblogging site, Twitter within the Nigerian space following the deletion of President Buhari’s tweet which was considered quite inflammatory, and goes against the standard of Twitter. The government, through its information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who announced the ban, attributed the move to the proclivity of Twitter to promote a state of insecurity in the country, while citing Twitter’s role in fostering the recent #EndSARS national protest in the country. In the course of the weeks, the Information and Culture Minister had asked the Federal House of Representatives during a public hearing, to assign more constitutional powers to the FG to enable it bring some form of regulation on the use of microblogging sites or social media platforms in the country. Earlier, the FG had also directed the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to immediately commence the process of licensing all Over-The-Top, OTT, media services and social media operations in Nigeria. It said platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and others must now be registered in Nigeria. As if that was not enough, The FG has also asked the members of the House to review its regulatory role on the Nigeria Press Council Act of 2018. Already, stakeholders have expressed deep fears that a bill seeking to amend the Nigeria Press Council, NPC, Act will lead to the death of serious newspapers in Nigeria if it scaled through the two chambers of the National Assembly and finally assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari. Strong voices against the bill said on Thursday June 17 at the public hearing in the House of Representatives that some provisions in the proposed amendment to the NPC Act would make it difficult for the media houses to operate in an atmosphere of freedom and hold those in the position of authority to account. The Nigerian Press Organisation, NPO, an umbrella body comprising the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, and the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, has therefore called on the House of Representatives to step down the bill immediately. This is even as media rights groups and other critical stakeholders in the media industry kicked against any move to infringe on press freedom through the proposed amendment of the NPC and NBC Acts respectively. The Executive Secretary of IPC, Lanre Arogundade, said the focus should be more on a “truly independent and media freedom friendly Nigerian Press Council” instead of working hard to muzzle media freedom. He expressed concern over a clause in the new bill, which sought to empower the NPC to penalise defaulting newspaper organisations with a fine of N10 million and N250,000 against individual journalists. The professional organisations stated that their observations and recommendations were based on their respective mandates and well informed norms and standards based on regional and international instruments and frameworks that are applicable to Nigeria. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), has queried Channels TV for alleged violation of Nigeria’s broadcasting code during its breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, days ago was “unconstitutional” illegal and uncalled for. The regulator claimed that the programme which hosted the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortum, contained “inciting”, divisive and unfair comments. Though, on the programme, Mr. Ortum expressed his displeasure about the growing insecurity in the country and accused President Muhammadu Buhari of an agenda to “fulanise” the country. Which the present administration could work harder to address instead of tagging it as “inciting”. He said “Mr. President is pushing me to think that what they say about him, that he has a hidden agenda in this country is true because it is very clear that he wants to fulanise but he is not the first Fulani president. “Shagari was a Fulani President, Yar’Adua was a Fulani President and they were the best in the history. But President Buhari is the worst president when it comes to issue of security and keeping his promises. Go back to 2015, what did he say, human right issues, he talked about press freedom, about the economy, corruption, security. Tell me one that Mr. President has achieved. On this, a notice signed by its Director General, Balarabe Ilelah, the NBC accused Channels TV of not “thoroughly interrogating” the comments made by Gov. Ortum. Consequently, Channels TV is required to explain why appropriate sanction should not be applied for these infractions of the NBC code. Your message should reach the Commission within 24 hours of the receipt of the letter”, notice read. Indeed, the NBC under President Muhammadu Buhari has become intolerant of views critical of the president and the government. In October 2020, Channels TV was one of the broadcast stations fined N3Million for their reportage of the #EndSARS protest. Also, in April, the TV station was warned over an interview the station held with the spokesman of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Again in May, it was fined N5Million for alleged violation. With this query being given to Channels TV, is categorized as an “assault on press freedom” aimed at intimidating “dissenting voices”. There are more pressing issues demanding statecraft and leadership than the hounding of journalists and repression of the media merely on account of interviewed granted by opposition figures. In fact, it would be recalled that the legality of the Broadcasting Code, invoked by the NBC against Channels TV, is still a matter of contention before the Federal High Court, Abuja Division in suit No: FHC/SUIT No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1136/2020 between Rep. This no doubt is geared to protect the palpable inefficiencies of the present administration; intimidate dissenting voices and erode standard democratic ethos. Nigeria is expected to embark on legislative paths that help to expand the frontiers of press freedom through frameworks that strengthen the freedom and independence of the media to enhance its roles. It is the heartfelt concern of media houses that these moves by the government appears to form an ominous sequence as there have been hues of alarm raised in public space in the recent past, concerning the fact that the space for healthy political rivalry and or opposition is gradually but steadfastly being narrowed under the Buhari regime. Some public space watchers have expressed fears that it may see the country declining down the path of a full dictatorship such as China, North Korea, Russia just to mention a few. Òrúnbon, an opinion writer, poet, journalist and public affairs, writes in from Abeokuta, [email protected]CBN confirms Osita Nwanisobi as New spokesperson
CBN confirms Osita Nwanisobi as New spokesperson
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the appointment of Osita Nwanisobi as the director of its corporate communications department.
Nwanisobi had acted in the capacity since October 2020 when his predecessor, Isaac Okorafor retired from service
Prior to his role as a director, Nwanisobi served as a special assistant to the financial system stability (FSS) deputy governor between 2009 and 2011; and also as a special assistant to the corporate services deputy governor from 2001 to 2009.
He obtained a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Nwanisobi also holds a master of science (MSc) degree in industrial sociology from the University of Lagos, and a master of business administration (MBA) in finance and markets from the University of Benin.
The apex bank also announced the appointment of seven new directors to its various departments.
The new directors include Abdulkadir Abdullahi Jibril who take over from Mohammed Ahmed Shehu as medical services director; Rashidat Jumoke Monguno replaces Haruna Mustafa as consumer protection department (CPD) director; while Chibuzo Anthony Efobi also replaces Ibrahim Tukur as financial policy and regulation department director.
It also appointed Elizabeth Omolara Fasoranti as branch operations director; Amina Habib as human resources department director; Blaise Ijebor as risk management director; and Benjamin Nnadi as reserve management director.
CBN further said all the appointments made will take effect from August 25, 2021.
We Train Police Spokespersons on Strategic Communication- IGP Baba
We Train Police Spokespersons on Strategic Communication- IGP Baba
It is with great sense of professional fulfilment that I welcome partici all to this very important occasion which is the opening ceremony of a 3-day Intensive Capacity Building Workshop for Police Public Relations Officers across all Commands and other Formations of the Nigeria Police Force. This workshop, with the theme, “Crime Scene Management and Conclusive Criminal Investigations – The Role of Police Spokespersons”, will hold from today, through to 3rd September, 2021.
This workshop is organized in partnership with the Nigeria – German Development Cooperation (GIZ). I sincerely appreciate the Head of Component, GIZ Nigeria, Gertjan de Gruijter, for GIZ’s approval and for undertaking to sponsor and organize this workshop as part of the many interventions by the organization in building and strengthening Police structures and capacity in Nigeria. I am reliably informed by the Force Public Relations Officer, who has been interacting with the GIZ team on behalf of the Force, that the workshop would be in two (2) batches with the first batch holding here in Lagos and the second in Abuja. This is for the purpose of positive intellectual impact and also in compliance with the COVID-19 prevention regulations.
I am particularly excited about this workshop, owing to the fact that, it is coming at a time when the Force is implementing a new Manpower Development Policy, which amongst other things, focuses on improving capacity of Police personnel across all ranks, in line with new policing standards and best practices.
This workshop for Police Public Relations Officers is timely and unique in many ways. One of these, is the contextual theme of the workshop which seeks to develop robust forensic awareness and knowledge for our Spokespersons. This in itself flows from contemporary public relations practice which identifies Police spokespersons across the world as one of the first responders to crime scenes.
This is in addition to many other important roles played by Police Spokespersons in managing crime incidents throughout the investigative processes. These roles are germane to the pursuit of professional criminal investigations and the dispensation of justice to both the victims and defendants.
This course also seeks to equip the participants with skills necessary for effective descriptive, analytical and strategic communication touching on criminal investigations and procedure. This in turn will enable them acquire relevant skills to give appropriate responses to citizens and media enquiries into matter of forensic and evidential nature connected to ongoing criminal investigations.
I have no doubt that the 3-days workshop would, amongst other benefits, impact Police Spokespersons positively, particularly in the areas of Strategic Communication and Crime Scene Management. In addition, participants of this course must be reminded that, to succeed as Police Image Makers, they must be versatile and have deep theoretical and practical knowledge of all aspects of policing, covering administration, operations, investigations, forensics, amongst others. Therefore, the quest for resourcefulness, remains an integral part of the objective of this course.
I encourage the participants to take advantage of the opportunities the workshop presents, to interact, cross fertilize and broaden their skills, especially in responding to crime incidents and to fit-in to the ever demanding, dynamic but necessary task of information management and public engagement, for the Force. I am confident that the trainees will put up their best of performance throughout the period of the training and reflect the knowledge gained in their service delivery.
The Nigeria Police, under my watch, remains committed to well-thought-out and goal-driven partnership and collaborations, with progressive and positive-minded organizations such as the GIZ, targeted at enhancing professional, structural and operational capacity of the Force.
The Force would sustain this relationship and open new areas of collaborations, particularly ones touching on capacities on criminal investigations, respect for human rights, access to justice for citizens, improved transparency and accountability in policing actions, and other deliberate efforts aimed at strengthening citizens’ complaint response system.
IGP Usman Alkali Baba made the remarks at training workshop in Lagos for Police PROs
We won’t Stop Summoning Media Houses that Violates Broadcast Code – NBC
We won’t Stop Summoning Media Houses that Violates Broadcast Code – NBC
Balarabe Ilelah, director-general of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), has called on media platforms to adhere to the regulations of the commission.
Ilelah said the commission will not hesitate to “keep on summoning anyone who goes contrary to NBC code”.
Anchors of Channels Television were summoned by the commission last week over an interview granted to Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue state.
While appearing as a guest on Sunrise Daily, the governor had accused President Muhammadu Buhari of trying to “Fulanise” Nigeria.
In reaction, NBC said Channels violated six of its rules during the broadcast of the interview, and that the anchors did not “thoroughly interrogate” the governor.
Speaking on Monday when members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) visited the commission’s office in Abuja, the Ilelah said the NBC will continue to regulate and sanitise the media.
He said: “As leaders of your various reputable and responsible organisation, I want you to tell your members that nobody is above the law.
“All of us must live within the coverage of the law and we must be held accountable. Journalism is a profession that has ethics, we are supposed to operate within the ethics of the profession.
“You came to the commission based on some reports from the social media. As a journalist, I know that news coming from social media are not verified and normally when you get information from anywhere, you need to verify the source of the news.
“But when the news had no source and then you went again and keep on spreading the news, that is not journalism.
“We are going to keep on fighting people that are spreading fake news, the commission will not be scared and will keep on summoning anyone who goes contrary to NBC code.
NBC is not here to suppress press freedom, but to guide the press. Our duty is to make sure that everybody is given a fair playing ground so that you can say whatever you want to say that is according to the law.”
A letter to Nigerian public relations practitioners by Stanley Olisa
A letter to Nigerian public relations practitioners by Stanley Olisa
Dear Nigerian PR practitioner, this is my 8th public relations article this year, as I have been publishing a piece every month as my own campaign towards managing the reputation of public relations and forging a discourse around practicing it right, especially in an ever-evolving world driven by tech.
In July, we celebrated the first ever World PR Day. I’m particularly gleeful about this because I looked forward to it- a day set aside to put public relations on the front burner globally, drive a unified agenda for the profession and unmistakably enlighten the world about the true worth of PR, thereby dispelling the myriad of misperceptions which preoccupy many minds.
In the same July, I had the opportunity of speaking to professionals and entrepreneurs of a Rotary Club in Lagos. The topic was ‘Managing Brand Reputation in an Age of Digital Disruption’. The session was an explosive one for my audience and an exposé for me- another session which revealed how incorrectly people think about PR. The misorientations about PR, the wrong expectations from PR practitioners and their perceived value. The lecture further accentuated the need for an extensive PR campaign for PR. You can read my piece on Punch, entitled ‘Why PR in Nigeria Needs PR’.
In this letter to Nigerian PR practitioners, I’m dwelling on 6 practices which define modern public relations, while charging Nigerian PR practitioners to ‘switch things up’ in line with the demands of communication technology and digital cultures of their audiences. If your PR must be contemporary, it should exemplify these elements and pan away from the conventional PR thinking, paradigms and approaches.
Publicity is a means, not an end
Publicity should no longer be the endgame. It’s a means, not an end. We’ve gone past the times where your pitch to a client as a PR consultant is merely awareness creation. CEOs already understand the need for visibility. But beyond that, what’s the endgame? Your client is now interested in how your PR campaign will help them strengthen relationships with their key stakeholders and engender supportive behaviour.
Telling your client you’ll get them published in the dailies and on blogs doesn’t really cut it anymore. Selling press release syndication as your only value-add to a prospective client is no longer a sustainable approach. There is a growing need for PR practitioners to embrace the reality that the demands and expectations in the business world are changing, and the business environment is becoming more complex.
These changes are adding new ramifications to the PR profession, as it is coming under intense scrutiny by CEOs, especially as they pose questions which impugn the value of PR practice. PR expert Godfrey Adejumoh, in his article ‘What is the Currency of PR Practitioners?’, captured the role of a modern PR practitioner beyond publicity: “The currency of influence by the PR practitioner is so critical that it plays a major role in aiding the go-to market strategy of the organisation, it inspires the business continuity plan and provides input into the business forecast in the short, medium and long term. These are no doubt key deciding factors for the sustainability of any organisation”.
Thus, to blossom well and show more value as a PR pro, you must look beyond publicity cum media relations and have a broad commercial mindset.
Maximising digital assets
Digital has come to stay, and you must be comfortable with digital platforms. Digital PR should be factored when planning your campaigns. The reason is simple: People are spending more time in online communities and having conversations about everything, including your brand.
Therefore, it’s vital to keep tabs on these conversations and determine when to wade in or take advantage of the narratives. This is where Social Monitoring and Listening skills come to play, to manage the sentiment levels of the conversations and inform share-of-voice decisions.
Modern PR takes advantage of online assets and uses them to favourably direct the sentiments of customers’ conversations. Digital disruption has heightened the scrutiny on brands and redefined the crisis cycle. It’s easier for crises to snowball now than it was a decade ago, courtesy of social media prevalence. Thus, Social Monitoring and Listening have to take a front seat as a proactive PR measure.
Leveraging influencer marketing
Influencer marketing is one of the tactics which PR picked from Marketing. If your audiences are predominantly online, then influencer marketing should be a central part of your PR planning. Let’s understand that awareness is no longer defined by the media only. Social media boom has intensified the need for influencers whose social influence on the target audience isn’t in doubt.
In my article ‘How to Optimise Influencer Marketing for PR Wins’ on Vanguard, I wrote: “Influencers are people or entities who have some social influence (persuasion and compliance) or people considered to have authoritative knowledge in their chosen disciplines. An influencer is almost always famed for their affinity for a given field or subject area. Influencer marketing takes the form of product placement and endorsement by the influencer and frequently comes across as testimonial advertising”.
Just as you develop a media relations plan, you should also have an influencer relations plan with clearly articulated objectives. There are key factors to consider when choosing influencers. You may want to read my Vanguard piece.
Thought leadership should be a standard practice
Today, people trust you and are easily influenced if you’ve consistently published niche content which speaks to issues impacting them.
I defined thought leadership in my article ‘Thought Leadership for Reputation Management’ on Marketing Edge, as “regularly sharing relevant content to provide insight which is helpful to your target audience. It’s the art of building reputation whereby an organisation leverages the expertise of its people to address the questions bogging its target audience”.
Thought leadership can take the form of a webinar series in which a top management executive gives insights on pertinent industry issues; a monthly podcast where a manager shares valuable perspectives on burning issues as they affect their target audience; a weekly newspaper byline publication or blog post shedding light on a given subject matter; or planned speaking engagements for a C-suite executive to showcase knowledge which can solve real issues of the target audience.
Your PR plan should have a thought leadership strategy to reinforce executive presence, drive talkability, project industry expertise and build brand affinity.
Data-driven PR
Public relations starts with research (preliminary) and ends with research (evaluative). This implies that data informs the PR process. Data is everything. It defines the entire campaign. You need data on the stakeholders you’re targeting, for instance- media consumption habits, digital cultures, other defining personality variables, etc.
If you get it wrong in the data stage, your campaign is flawed. That’s why your research must be painstaking.
Writing for Digital is Peculiar
Writing for digital is demanding and peculiar. It’s different from writing for the traditional media. For digital, you must be engaging and concise. The challenge becomes how to express important details in the fewest possible words, sentences and paragraphs. How do you ensure your articles don’t get ignored as a result of their length?
Your writings should be ‘incentivised’- one of the implications of digital media for PR.
Olisa, a strategic communications consultant, wrote from Lagos.