Connect with us

Published

on

UN Commends NAN For Operational Standards, Resilience—-The United Nations Organisation (UNO) has lauded the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) for its resilience and operational standards among its peers in Africa.

Mr Ronald Kayanja, Director of the UN Information Centre (UNIC) Nigeria, gave the commendation during his official visit to the Managing Director of the agency, Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Kayanja expressed his deep regards for the agency’s factual and credible reportage of news.

“I have a lot of respect for NAN because not many news agencies have survived modern operations.

“As you know, we have even been battling to have the Pan-African news agency with a bit of difficulty but NAN has survived.

“Talking about the Multimedia, I am so happy about the way you have now added the element of video, photography and your online presence as that is really the way to go.

“As you know, the newspaper is having problems, we have to adapt.

“One of my first priorities in the morning is to know what’s going on in the country, so I read papers.

“I always see stories from NAN and this shows you are really doing a great job, including our own (UN) coverage.

“I see a lot of UN, NAN (stories) and I am just told that you have correspondents even at the UN headquarters.”

The UNIC Director congratulated the agency for its feats and the great work it is doing in sustaining factual and credible reportage in the era of digital media operations amidst inadequate technological work tools and other equipment.

“The evolution of journalism with the coming of the digital media and the challenges therein are not new; but for you to still be working, really, I commend you.

“I commend the adaptability that you have in the work you do and the quality.

“You have an idea of what is going on in Nigeria, on issues that are going on; NAN usually is our source.

“You tend to have many things, many aspects of life. That, really, is useful, that is why I am here.

“I am here to show our gratitude for the kind of work that you do, to try and see that we work a bit more closely together.

“The UNIC is part of the UN Secretariat’s Department of Global Communications and so our work, as you can hear, is information.

“Therefore, you are people that we should work with; we have been working with you and so I am grateful that you are here.

“I want us to work even more closely together.

“There is an initiative; there are a number of initiatives, but there is one initiative I want to introduce to you and that is the one on SDGs,” Kayanja said.

Responding, the NAN MD, attributed the agency’s success to its ability to evolve and calibre of personnel.

Ali noted that the agency was established by an Act in 1976 and, thereafter, commenced full operations in 1978.

“NAN was conceived to be the biggest news content provider on the continent of Africa at the onset of its operations.

“We had 11 foreign offices, we still have an office in New York; we are the only resident news agency for the West Coast in the UN right now.

“So we have an office in New York, we have in South Africa- in Johannesburg, Abidjan, Ethiopia, Moscow and the UK; out of all the 11 foreign offices, some are still operational.

“We thank you for your very kind words about the resilience of the news agency which has stood the test of time.

“The Pan-African News Agency is now in the graveyard of history.

“We’ve demonstrated this amazing staying-power because we tried to evolve over time, we repositioned; as contemporary challenges face us, we also reposition.

“Only last week, we returned from a week-long editorial management retreat to see how we are going to confront the impending challenges of the dawn of AI; how social media has given rise to the integrity of news sources and stories.”

Ali expressed the willingness to work closely with notable global agencies to achieve more meaningful results.

“We have a reporter stationed to cover your office, to cover the UN; so we will like to have further conversations around some of these things, especially on sustainable development.

“In NAN, we are concerned, we are focused largely on developmental and solution journalism.

“By law, we are not allowed to report subjectively or inequitably; these are luxuries we cannot afford.

“Over the years, we have come to be trusted. We rely on that believability associated with us and it has become our selling point.

“We want you to actually know, unless you see it in NAN, it cannot be true.

“This is why, over time with pressure posed by social media to break the news, we do it the good old ways- cross-check, cross-reference- before we publish.

“We may be slow but we are factual as opposed to the social media’s free-for-all.

“Our reporters are highly trained, our gatekeepers are equally experienced.

0Shares
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Breaking

JUST IN: Kellyrae Wins BBNaija Season 9 No Loose Guard N100m Grand Prize [VIDEO]

Published

on

Kellyrae

JUST IN: Kellyrae Wins BBNaija Season 9 No Loose Guard N100m Grand Prize [VIDEO]—-Kellyrae, Big Brother Naija ‘No Loose Guard’ housemate, has been crowned winner of the season.

TCN reports that Kellyrae was announced with on the 71st day of the show.

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, host of the show, Ebuka, announced the winner on Sunday.

The eight housemates who made it to the finals were Soj, Anita, Nelly, Onyeka, Wanni, Victoria and Ozee.

As the competition winner, Kellyrae goes home with N100m of prizes.

Watch the moment below

Click HERE to watch

0Shares
Continue Reading

Crime

Bobrisky: NCoS Anticipate Investigation outcome, Clarifies Inmate Admission Process

Published

on

Bobrisky

Bobrisky: NCoS Anticipate Investigation outcome, Clarifies Inmate Admission Process—-The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed an ongoing investigation into allegations surrounding convicted cross dresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky’s accommodation, with findings pending.

Abubakar Umar, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO) disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

Umar also highlighted the service’s commitment to rehabilitation and safety through its comprehensive inmate admission process.

NAN recalls that Bobrisky was convicted for mutilating the naira in April and was sentenced to six months in jail.

NAN also reports that Mr Vincent Otse, social media influencer and human rights activist known as Very Dark Man (VDM) published an audio recording which captured Bobrisky allegedly saying that he spent his jail term in a private apartment.

The audio also captured Bobrisky allegedly saying that he paid N15 million to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials to drop charges of money laundering against him.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government, On Monday, Sept. 30,  inaugurated an independent investigative panel to prove allegations of corruption and gross violations of standard operating procedures within the NCoS.

The Minister Of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who inaugurated the committee said that the committee must also look at the recent allegations that some correctional service personnel had provided alternative accomodation for Bobrisky.

Umar, however, explained that inmates undergo comprehensive assessments to determine security risks, needs, and responsivity issues when brought to custodial centres.

According to him, the admission board evaluates each inmate to ensure safe housing and effective rehabilitation.

Umar who, outlined the service’s rigorous admission process for inmates, added that adherence to human rights principles through the approach was also paramount.

“Well, upon conviction of every offender from court, either awaiting trial or convicted, once they are brought to our facility, there is a process they go through before and during admission.

“Let me say during admission, there is what we call admission board, which comprises the officer in charge, the second in command, the medical officer in charge of the custodial center, the record officer and other relevant officers.

“They will go through the information contained therein in the warrants, also, before he will be allocated cell, there is what we call, determination of security.

“Determination of security refers to one’s risk assessment. The person risks self harm, safety of other inmate and officers. We also have what we call needs assessment, which is focused on criminogenic need areas.

“These are behaviours that may cause, criminal behavioural and other criminological needs.These are the things that we look into before an inmate is allocated cell.

“Furthermore, we also look at what we refer to as responsivity issues. There are things that can affect his participation in intervention or make it difficult for him to adjust to custodial life.

“So, having worked all this in, then it will be determined which cell such inmates will be allocated to,”he maintained.

According to Umar, during Bobrisky’s court appearance and subsequent admission to our facility, he was asked to declare his gender and he identified himself as male, but do not forget that, there are some other features that are on him.

“So because of those determination, I mean, what I refer to as classification and also determination of security of the custodial center, he was given an appropriate cell where he was kept.

“This is to also ensure that, he is not under threat within our custodial centers and he is kept safe also.

“Well, one thing I want to say here is that, the Minister of interior, has set up a committee to investigate the said alleged Bobrisky staying outside our custodial center.

“So until the determination of such or the outcome of such investigations, I think we should let it rest.

“I am only telling you that once an inmate or people are convicted, or are brought to our custodial centres, we have a standard of treatment to them during admission.

“They will be put through checks and these checks guide us on determination of security of such person both to the person and to the custodial center.

“But as to whether he was kept in our custodial facilities or he was kept outside the facility, until the determination of the outcome of the investigation on the allegations, I won’t be able to speak further on that,”he maintained.

0Shares
Continue Reading

Trending

0Shares