Nigerian journalists visit Benenoir radio station, call for collaboration

by Dayo Emmanuel

Emmanuel (in blue and white), presenting the JFC/WACC publication to Turari

Chief News Editor of the Republic of Benin-based radio station, Radio Su Tii Dera, Mr. Wahab Turari, has advised on the need for a working relationship between Nigerian journalists and their Benenoir counterparts.

Turari, who played host to journalists and missionaries from Nigeria recently, gave a background of the station based in Nikki, northern part of the West African nation.

“We are happy to have you pay a courtesy visit today. This is Radio Su Tii Dera, operating in Nikki. Journalist in Nigeria and Benin are the same, we are in the same profession and it is good if we have a good working relationship,” he said.

The News Editor continued that, “We have many radio stations in Benin Republic, some are business oriented, some are Christian oriented. We have different types. Radio Su Tii Dera is a community based radio station, we broadcast news of Benin Republic, it is owned by the country and sponsored by the people. So it is established for the country and not for individuals or of private interest.”

According to Turari, the station also has established partnership with professional bodies who sponsor programs. “We have arrangement with professional bodies who sponsor us, preachers do come here to preach as well and pay for their time used,” he explained.

Talking about the law that established the station, Turari said the law establishing the radio station made provision for it to be sponsored by the people, but later, such sponsorship had dwindled with time.

On the challenges facing the station, he said, “After commencing operations, the station originally designed to be sponsored by the people, has no enough sponsorship. We run the power generating set from personal fund, as you can see, there was no power supply when you came and we were not on air, but we had to start the generator by 5pm to commence operations again.”

He therefore welcome a collaboration that could yield results. “We would speak to our superior officers on a possible collaboration with you. It is good to network, you can bring a letter so we can submit to our bosses, it is not a strange thing to us,” he said.

In his response, Administrative Secretary of Journalists For Christ (JFC), Nigeria, Dayo Emmanuel, appreciated Turari for the warm welcome.

Emmanuel, who also writes for Newswatch Times newspaper in Nigeria, said, “Journalism is the same everywhere and more so, Benin Republic and Nigeria share common boarder as good neighbours on the West African coast and therefore should collaborate to achieve greater results.

He also told Turari about the Nigerian media. “Like you may have known, Nigeria operates a robust media industry. Apart from being the most populous nation on the continent, Nigeria is also home to outstanding media organisations and media professionals who have distinguished themselves globally. Therefore a collaboration would no doubt facilitate rapid career development, which would definitely reflect on our societies.”

Also on the team, Ayokunle Samuel Oloye, a JFC member who also writes for the Peoples Daily newspaper in Nigeria, appreciated Radio Su Tii Dera for opening its doors to their Nigerian counterparts.

“I particularly thank you all for giving us the opportunity to know more about what you do here. Like you mentioned, a synergy between Nigerian journalists and your station would go a long way to strengthen the relationship between our two nations,” he said.

Emmanuel also intimated Turari on JFC, Nigeria. “Journalists For Christ is an organisation for Christian journalists and allied professionals in Nigeria. We have members from various media houses and since 1998, we meet for fellowship every third Saturday of the month to share the word of God, pray and engage in career development workshops.”

He added that, “Our recent project was a month-long media monitoring on portraying and reportage of women and girls right issues in six Nigerian newspapers, which report was published and presented to the public in January.” He continued that, “Theme of the publication sponsored by World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), Canada, is ‘Mainstreaming Gender Reporting on Affirmative Action of Women and Girls Rights Issues,’ advising that, “This is a kind of synergy we feel journalists across the African sub-region and even across the world should form to better the lot of the people.”

JFC however called on Radio Su Tii Dera to give more prominence to reporting women and girls right issues in their bulletins.

At the end of the courtesy visit, Turari, who introduced other staff of the station on duty, also conducted the visitors round the facility after which a copy of the JFC/WACC publication was formally presented to the station.

Also on the visit were Nigerian and Benenoir missionaries, including, Pastors Olusina Sadiku, Akin Ajiboye, Timothy Ajiboye, Femi Dada,  Andrae Salifu, George among others.

Firm unveils pre-event activities for Cannes advertising festival Firm unveils pre-event activities for Cannes advertising festival

• By Margaret Mwantok 

 

As Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity launches its communications campaign for 2016 titled ‘Thank You Creativity,’ the official festival representative in Nigeria, CHINI Productions, has also rolled out plans for the pre-Cannes local events in Nigeria. Activities lined up in Nigeria include the Roger Hatchuel Academy, the Young Lions Competitions, the Miami Ad School Scholarship Competitions, Lions Edit and Lions Night & Awards.

These activities are scheduled to take place from April 5 through April 9, 2016. Entries for Roger Hatchuel Academy, Young Lions Competition and Miami Ad School Scholarship competitions are already open at www.canneslions-ng.com.

The Roger Hatchuel Academy is the oldest academy in Cannes Lions and is named after the first Festival chairman. It is a high profile, intensive training for university students who intend to work in advertising upon graduation. In Nigeria, CHINI Productions has partnered with APCON for about nine years to promote this programme.

This year, the programme will see talented students gather from campuses around Nigeria to learn from leading professionals in Lagos and visit organisations in the industry during the 3-day intensive residential programme. Companies that have already indicated interest to host the students include Noah’s Ark Communications and STB McCann. The Roger Hatchuel Academy Awards this year will include Best Teacher and Best School awards. The best academy student as usual will be sponsored to attend the international academy in Cannes and the first runner-up will be sponsored to attend a sister regional festival, the Dubai Lynx.

The Young Lions Competitions will hold in Film, Design, Print, Cyber and Media categories. These are competitions among young professionals of 30 years and below working in agencies in Nigeria. The winners from each category will represent Nigeria in their respective categories at the international competitions during the Cannes Lions Festival in June.

This year, CHINI is partnering with Miami Ad School again to offer talented Nigerian creatives scholarships to study at Miami Ad Schools around the world for the certificate, first degree and master’s degree programmes respectively. This is the sixth consecutive year of the scholarship programme and earlier beneficiaries are already contributing to the industry both locally and internationally.

A new introduction to the local offering of the pre Cannes programmes is the Lions Edit. This is a platform offered to agencies, digital companies, production outfits and brands to connect their practice to the creativity essence of Cannes Lions to make topnotch presentations that will educate, inspire, enrich and grow the industry. Several companies have already indicated interest to be part of this. Special roles are expected to be played by communications experts in Health and Technology as well as Nollywood and Music in line with the new specialized festival extensions in Cannes – Lions Health, Lions Innovation and Lions Entertainment. The event is scheduled to begin at 9:00am on April 9, 2016 at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

Managing Director of CHINI Productions and Cannes Lions representative, Mr. Nnamdi Ndu, said: “For many in the industry, this is as close as they can get to Cannes Lions. This is our own creative carnival! There is no reason in the world why any major brand or agency in Nigeria should not be at the forefront of this. More than ever before, we need creative solutions to get out of the present challenges we find ourselves in as a nation. And, here’s an open invitation for all hands to come on deck. If we don’t build our industry, no one else will.”

Be sensitive, responsible, NBC urges radio broad

• By Gbenga Salau 

A radio station. image source justshuddup

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has called on radio broadcasters to recognise the power of they have and exercise such with great responsibility and sensitivity.

In a message yesterday to mark World Radio Day with the theme, ‘Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster’, NBC urged radio broadcasters to produce programmes that present radio as a lifeline during emergencies and help to empower people in devastated communities, aside providing the citizenry with information that would empower them, give them a means of livelihood and sense of dignity.

The broadcast regulator described the theme as very relevant to Nigeria, in the face of mindless killing of innocent Nigerians by a misguided sect, known as Bokoharam, as well as perennial floods, which together have continued to devastate homes and farmlands and create millions of internally displaced persons in Nigeria.

“At the National Broadcasting Commission, we recognise radio as an effective medium to reach remote communities and vulnerable people to provide necessary information, essential to saving lives. We also recognise the need to ensure the safety of journalists as they cover disasters. We call for adequate insurance cover for journalists and well as reasonable access to ground zero in all cases.”

The Commission stated that practitioners must ensure that radio give access to the people to express themselves and participate in the decision-making process that would affect their lives. “In line with this, the Commission is empowering the local people to raise their voices and be heard through the grant of community radio licenses.”

It also said it remains committed to protecting radio frequencies and making sure they are available in times of emergency. “And with the successful switchover to digital broadcasting, the Commission hopes to promote the effective utilization of the spectrum, as a tool for national development.

“As we mark this year’s World Radio Day, we join the United Nations to urge all radio broadcasters in Nigeria to use radio to promote the sustainable development goals, to transform our world and demonstrate that, indeed, radio saves lives.”

Bloomberg journalism training marks first year with over 250 graduate

• By Gbenga Salau

 

Applications now open for latest cohort
The Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa (BMIA) Executive Training Program to advance financial journalism in Africa marks the completion of its first year this month with 260 graduates receiving recognition at graduation ceremonies in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. The series of ceremonies concluded in Kenya on 22 February.

In a statement made available to The Guardian, the six-month certificate program is offered to journalists and mid-career professionals in business and civil society to strengthen their skills in capital markets and data analysis and enhance their knowledge in financial and economic reporting. The program is a core component of the BMIA, which aims to accelerate development of a globally competitive media and financial reporting industry as well as promote transparency, accountability and good governance in Africa.

“We hope participants will consider this exposure to business and financial reporting as a lifelong vocation to further the development, quality, accuracy and impact of the field in Africa. Bloomberg is proud to partner with preeminent journalists and leading universities in Africa to make this program possible,” says Erana Stennnett, Director, Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa. “I am proud of the journalists and executives who completed the program, and thank their employers for giving them the opportunity,” she adds.

Funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, with additional support from the Ford Foundation, the BMIA Executive Training Program brings together leading faculty from the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) and five other preeminent business and journalism schools in Africa, including: Rhodes University School of Journalism in South Africa; the University of Lagos Department of Mass Communication and Radio, and the Pan Atlantic University Lagos Business School in Nigeria; and University of Nairobi, School of Journalism and Mass Communications and Strathmore Business School in Kenya.

Dr. George Njenga, Dean of Strathmore Business School, Kenya says: “Extraordinary business journalists who have completed the BMIA Executive Training Program in Kenya will help grow the financial and business sector to greater heights. This is possible thanks to Bloomberg.”

This interactive program aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of media professionals to better serve the public interest as a critical part of continental development and progress. Program participants received instruction from world-class faculty and industry experts. The 19-day program over six months consists of six modules featuring Public Policy, Financial Journalism, Financial Markets, Accounting and Finance. Delegates also receive copies of “The Bloomberg Way”, a guide for reporters and editors written by Matthew Winkler, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, Bloomberg News, as well as a free subscription to leading financial and business information system, the Bloomberg Professional service.

“It gives us a great sense of accomplishment to graduate 90 participants in Nigeria’s BMIA Executive Training program. Several graduates are already on their way to higher responsibilities in their careers, demonstrating the quality of the faculty and relevance of the program.

We hope to keep attracting outstanding candidates to the program and generating real influence in financial reporting in Nigeria,” Dr. Bongo Adi, Consortium Faculty at the Pan Atlantic University Lagos Business School in Nigeria added.