AfDB, AIMS to transform industry-led research in Africa

The African Development Bank and the African Institute of Mathematics and Sciences (AIMS) have initiated a landmark relationship aimed at building an industry-led research institution in the league of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, led a delegation of the High-Level Advisory Council of AIMS to a meeting with the African Development Bank in Abidjan, where a 10-year partnership proposal was made to build mathematical and scientific capacity in Africa, strengthen industry linkages, and create a competitive industrial and innovative space.

Obasanjo, the Patron of the High-Level Advisory Council for AIMS’ Next Einstein Initiative, with former Ghanaian President John Kufuor as Vice-Chair, described the visit as a huge opportunity for the Bank and AIMS to forge an extraordinary partnership to support African countries in the expansion of mathematical science education, training and research. He commended Bank President Akinwumi Adesina for championing Africa’s development and assured that the proposed partnership is critical for the continent’s future. “If we are going to make substantial progress in industrialization within the next decade, be truly visible in the rapidly unfolding fourth industrial revolution and rise effectively to the challenge of creating decent and sustainable jobs for our youths, the continent must produce well motivated and well trained young innovators.”

Adesina stressed the need for Africa to develop with pride and pledged the Bank’s commitment to build a partnership with AIMS that would allow the continent to compete with the rest of the world. “We must recognize that the world is moving fast. Consequently, how can Africa position itself in a rapidly changing world so that it doesn’t become disadvantaged? We are a knowledge-driven Bank and think our partnership will help us build quantum knowledge for growth. We are excited about the focus on young people. We also like the regional integration dimension of the work that AIMS does.”

The Bank President promised to convene a meeting of donors to discuss AIMS’ funding request, but stressed the need for greater participation by the private sector, particularly key industries that benefit from the institution’s research and work in science, technology and innovation.

He described the involvement of industry-led research as the driving force of the Silicon Valley. He also made a case for venture capital and private equity funds to support research outputs from the continent.

Neil Turok, the Founder of AIMS, described the Bank as a leading institution in Africa and said the Institute is excited about the prospect of a partnership. “I was trained to believe in Africa. I can tell you AIMS is the most exciting and dynamic science and educational institution in the world. What has driven the institution are the young students from Africa.”  

Turok said AIMS’ research and industry-led capacity development aligns with the Bank’s High 5s, including its regional integration targets. “What we are doing at AIMS is to transform Africa is by giving opportunities to the youth. AIMS is African-owned, African-run, African-operated, but it hosts the best scientists in the world to give African young scientists the stuff they need.”  

He went on to say, “Our goal is to be the MIT for Africa. We know the impact MIT has on U.S. industry. We want to create the same for Africa, but we struggle with sustainable funding. We want to work with the African Development Bank to develop sustainable funding.”

The aim of the partnership program is to ensure that each of the 54 African countries has an additional 100-250 world-class specialists in mathematical sciences by 2020 to lead research and innovation in various fields. The total cost of the partnership program is projected at US $54.685 million.

AIMS is seeking bridging finance of $5 million to build mathematical capacity in Africa and called for the Bank’s support to establish the African Presidential Resource Center. AIMS’ President, Thierry Zomahoun, explained, “Bridging finance is needed to build upon and sustain the momentum in AIMS’ ongoing expansion of mathematical sciences education, training, research and industry initiative on the continent.

“With the generous support of donors since 2003, AIMS has been able to mobilize and commit more than $60 million in support of fully funded scholarships for the brightest young African scholars to obtain master’s and PhD education and training in the mathematical sciences and to implement an industry initiative.”

Adesina commended Obasanjo for establishing the Nigerian Trust Fund, hosted by the African Development Bank in 1976, when he was the Nigerian Head of State. “We want to ensure that Africa is not left behind in the 4th industrial revolution. That is why we, as a Bank, are very happy that you are leading the AIMS delegation to push for the strengthening of mathematical sciences.”  

Agribusiness Fund: CBN Begins Disbursement Of N26bn Beneficiaries -PM NEWS

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee on Thursday commenced disbursement of N26 billion Agribusiness Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS) fund to the first set of beneficiaries.

The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele at the inauguration of the scheme in Abuja, said that the fund was set up by the Bankers Committee at its 331st meeting held on Feb. 9, 2017.

He said that the main purpose was to improve access to affordable funding for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), particularly those operating in the informal sector of the economy.

Emefiele recalled that as commitment to the successful implementation of the scheme, all Money Deposit Banks (DMBs) voluntarily agreed to contribute five per cent of their Profit After Tax annually.

He said their contribution was to be used to fund eligible projects under the scheme.

Emefiele commended the commitment of the DMBs to support the scheme, adding that by the end of next year, the disbursement rate of the fund would have risen to N60 billion.

He also said the fund would be disbursed to youths, who had been trained on various entrepreneurship, vocational and management skills across the country by Entrepreneurship Development Institutions and Centres.

According to him, the centres are the Fate Foundation, Lagos Business School, House of Tara and Thrive Agric.

He said unlike other intervention scheme where the funds were disbursed in cash, beneficiaries under the agribusiness programme would be given equipment that were commensurate to the required amount based on their trade areas.

“In Nigeria, the challenges of youth unemployment and restiveness must be confronted with strategic innovative thinking to provide sustainable solution.

“No matter how daunting the challenge may seem, I believe that with unity of purpose, we can fight this scourge together.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that one of the most effective ways to tackle this scourge, is through entrepreneurship development and easy access to affordable funding.

“Yet, access to funds has been an Achilles heel on entrepreneurship development in the country today.

“A situation often credited to financial intermediaries’ apathy to youth entrepreneurship and startups, which are usually perceived as being too risky,
lacking relevant managerial skills and not possessing,’’ he said.

Emefiele said that the AGSMEIS scheme would be implemented under three broad components, direct, indirect and developmental components.

Under the direct component of the AGSMEIS, the CBN governor said beneficiaries could access loans to a limit of N10 million at an interest rate of five per cent per annum and a maximum tenor of up to seven years.

In addition, he said that there was also a moratorium period of 18 months on principal and six months on interest element, depending on the nature of the business.

Under the indirect component of the scheme, the CBN governor said
beneficiaries could access equity and quasi-equity investments of up to ten years with an initial lock up period of three years before divestment.

He explained that the developmental component of the scheme would be used for capacity building and technical assistance to support beneficiaries.

Emefiele said also that the apex bank would step up its developmental objectives so as to reduce the level of unemployment and create wealth that would support the growth and development of the economy.

Also, he said that under the CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme, which was launched in Nov. 2015, the bank had disbursed N80 billion to
358,000 small holder farmers in 34 states, cultivating eight commodities.

The highlight of the event was the disbursement of materials worth N133 million to first set of 358 beneficiaries to start businesses in their chosen fields.

Emefiele stressed again that the money was not free and the beneficiaries would be strictly monitored to ensure repayment.

SOURCE: PM NEWS

Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme: Bayelsa Rice Farmers Commend Nigerian Govt. As 500 Farmers Received Farm Inputs

Rice farmers in Bayelsa have applauded the Federal Government for its agricultural development initiatives, especially the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).

Mr Eziekiel Ogbianko, Chairman of the state chapter of the Rice Farmers Association in Nigeria (RIFAN), made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Yenagoa on Monday.

Ogbianko said that ABP had provided opportunities for many farmers in Bayelsa to access farm inputs easily.

He expressed optimism that, with ABP in Bayelsa, there would be increase in farm produce, especially rice.

“The ABP has come to stay as a life-saving programme for farmers.

“Many of our members are benefiting immensely, and we hope to work hard to support the FG’s efforts in ensuring food sufficiency,’’ he said.

More than 500 rice farmers in Bayelsa, on April 5, received various farm inputs in the first phase of the ABP.

The inputs distributed to the farmers included 120,000 bags of fertiliser, 400 cans of herbicides and 500 sprayer machines.

Oghianko noted that the Central Bank of Nigeria flagged-off distribution of the items under the first phase of the 2018 ABP for dry-season farming.

He also noted that ABP was aimed at promoting mass production of rice through a revolving loan to empower millions of farmers.

“Right now in the state, we have over 4,000 farmers working on 20,000 hectares of land cleared for the dry season rice farming.

“The farm sites are located at Ondewari and Okpotuwari communities in Southern-Ijaw Local Government Area.’’

Mr John Owei, a rice farmer, also hailed the programme in the state, promising that farmers would continue to support the government’s efforts to achieve food security.

“The ABP scheme has created wealthy farmers across the country,” Owei said.

A female rice farmer, Mrs Caroline Ebipadie, said that she received fertiliser, a sprayer machine and 10 litres of herbicides.

Ebipadie told NAN that in spite of some constraints, the programme had given participants a new lease of life.

She added that the ripple effects of ABP provided job opportunities.

FAPA approves three projects to spur SME development in Africa

Donors to the Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA) consisting of the African Development Bank, the Government of Japan and the Government of Austria – have approved three catalytic projects totaling US $2,480,000 to stimulate the growth of Africa’s small and medium enterprises.

These grants will help strengthen the participation of Africa’s SMEs in financial markets and the agriculture sector.

“These three projects are well aligned with FAPA’s core mandate of supporting private-sector development in Africa, a key strategic priority of the African Development Bank. They augur well for job creation in Africa,” said Olivier Eweck, Director of the Syndication, Co-financing and Technical Solutions Department at the African Development Bank, and Chair of the FAPA Technical Committee.

The first project, Regional Financial Market Development Support Project (Projet d’appui au développement du marché financier regional, PADMAFIR) – a FAPA grant of US $980,000, will contribute to the modernization of the regulatory framework to increase competitiveness and strengthen the capacity of the regulator on new products, including securitization, diaspora bonds and green bonds. The grant will facilitate SMEs’ access to stock market funding and train commercial stakeholders to enhance professionalization. PADMAFIR is part of a long-term and ongoing multi-stakeholder partnership to develop the Regional Financial Market (stock exchange) of the West African Monetary Union (WAMU).

The second project is for the Promotion of Factoring in Africa, through which an investment totaling US $500,000 is deployed to finance the capacity-building of emerging factoring firms and the development of a sustainable knowledge and learning platform. The platform will provide capital to SMEs by financing their receivables. The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) will contribute US $450,000 towards this technical assistance project.

The third project is a grant of US $1,000,000 for leveraging investments for fertilizer utilization amongst smallholder farmers in Africa. It will help increase the affordability, accessibility and incentives for fertilizer use among smallholder farmers in Africa and expand the supply and distribution of fertilizer by leveraging investments. It is also intended to create over 1,000 jobs for women and youths. The AfricanFertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership will match the FAPA grant on a 1:1 basis.

“We look forward to providing further FAPA grants that will unlock business possibilities for Africa’s SMEs,” Eweck said.

Since its launch in 2006, FAPA has received donor contributions exceeding US $85 million and helped finance over 80 technical assistance projects, thereby making a significant contribution to SME development in Africa.

ITUN-AGAN: "WE BUILT OUR SCHOOLS TO SAVE THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN" -CDA

Lagos Community Updates Episode 1(Part A)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7cqHo1tyRc&index=2&list=PLNQ-yDa5W7P9So1x4OGb7a2MFkTLZw_M7

ITUN-AGAN: "WE BUILT OUR SCHOOLS TO SAVE THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN" -CDA

Lagos is an aquatic land no doubt. But do you have an idea of how many island live on its territory? Well, one of it is situated in the Amuwo-Odofin local government area of the state.

Welcome to Itu-Agan, a community with over five thousand residents and about ten different ethnic groups ranging from Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Calabar, Egun but predominantly of Ilaje people.

Known for their special skills in fishing, hardly will you see a household without a fishing net and tools. Their area of specialization is in crayfish. According to them that was what the progenitor of the land hunted for till the discovery of the Island in the 1920s.

In the words of Sydney Harris, the whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors to windows and in achieving this children of Itun-Agan travel across the sea on a daily basis. A situation that has left many sad memories and bitter tastes in the community.

Considering the risks involved in seeking knowledge to become a better person in future the Community Development Association came up with an idea of establishing a school to stop the travails.

Lagos Community Updates visited Itun-Agan to learn more about their plights.

It is one thing to desire something but when an idea remain in the book it will never materialize. The CDA members in Itun-Agan took their children's destiny in their own hands and made a dream project a reality thereby complementing the work of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Infrastructure and education.

A major producer of sea foods in Nigeria one will certainly believe that all the pupils will settle for fish farming as a profession either in a subsistence or mechanized way but the ambition 12 year old junior secondary school student will amaze you.

It is the hope of these two pupils that very soon the community self-help project will be completed by his Excellency governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

JAMB officials discriminating against Muslims – MSSN Lagos

There are strong indications that the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organised by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board is gradually becoming exclusive for Christians, the Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit (MSSN Lagos) has alleged.

The group made the allegation following recent harassment and delay of Muslim candidates wearing Hijab before accessing some examination centers for the JAMB Computer Based Test (CBT) Examination in Lagos.

MSSN Lagos noted that it already visited two centres - Shoms International School and Daleware Institute of Technology in Lagos – due to the worrisome attitude of some JAMB officers, who expressed discriminatory act against female Muslim candidates on Hijab.

After visiting the centers, Amir (President) of MSSN Lagos, Mallam Saheed Ashafa, described the harassments of the female Muslim students as a strategy to allow candidates from other religion outshine Muslims’.

Ashafa explained that JAMB breached the constitution of Nigeria, which guaranteed fundamental human right of religion by denying female Muslim candidates from taking the examination.

Mallam Saheed Ashafa, Amir MSSN Lagos State Area Unit

 He said, “There is no gain saying that JAMB is still a neutral body. Recent actions embarked upon by some officers of the body strongly indicate that JAMB-UTME is trending towards becoming an examination for only Christians. If not, why are JAMB officials refusing female Muslims from entering examination centers because they put on Hijab? Why did JAMB fix examination at a time ‎when Muslims were supposed to be observing their Jumaat?

"Examination bodies should stop tampering on the rights of Muslim students. While it is Muslims wish to participate in examinations, in the process we do not want our rights to freedom of religion to be trampled upon. JAMB cannot claim ignorance of the fact that Muslims observe their Jumaat prayer between 1pm and 3pm on Fridays.  

“JAMB should be reminded that the use of Hijab by the female Muslim students is a constitutional right which has been unequivocally affirmed and guaranteed by the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended and international instruments which Nigeria is a party to. We hope that this will stop without chaos.

"JAMB can only claim neutrality by stopping the refusal and delay of female Muslim candidates on Hijab from gaining entrance without stress like other students. We are not asking the examination body to infringe on other peoples religious rights but the JAMB must know clearly that the same reason why it cannot fix examination on Sunday (24 hours) and allow people to expose their nakedness makes it un-ideal for it to fix examination during Jumaat time (two hours) and stop those coving their nakedness with Hijab.

“As if that was not enough, JAMB also exposed candidates to danger in the name of writing examination by fixing examination for 6.30am, a time when Muslims will just be completing their morning salat (prayer). All these must be for an ulterior reason, part of which may be to make Muslim students not to perform well in the examination. We appeal to the JAMB authorities to put a stop to this before it degenerate into crisis."

SIGNED

MALLAM SAHEED ASHAFA

AMIR (PRESIDENT)

MUSLIM STUDENTS' SOCIETY OF NIGERIA

LAGOS STATE AREA UNIT

amir@mssnlagos.net

www.mssnlagos.net

The Secret Revealed: How Much Money You Need To Be Happy By Abayomi Adisa

My course mates, photography trainer, Claudia and I posing for a click in front of RNTC building in Hilversum, The Netherlands.            Credit: RNTC

We now live in a world of buy, buy, buy and possess. Some of us believe having ‘enough’ money in our accounts is all that counts. Almost all of us at one time or the other have had difficulty defining ‘enough money’. The more money we have, the more fears we nurse. We never want to return to our previous status. Our fears grow as we spend. I’ve read and listened to people say you can only be happy if you meet all your ‘heart desires’. But what is the true cost of happiness?

Some shared beliefs

Many of us run the race of life hoping to get to the finish line before others. Life to us is about competition; how fast we can run or outdo others. In fact, as a Christian, I’ve gone to churches inLagos where the preacher’s message was basically about wealth. “…if truly you’re born again, you will have everything in abundance”. I have to realise that happiness doesn’t take such a complex route that we always ply.

They thought it was all about money

On 29th January, 2015, a man packed his luxury car on the Third Mainland Bridge and jumped into the lagoon. His desire for more money ended right there. Whatever pushed him to killing himself was a mystery that Nigerian journalists couldn’t uncover till now. Today, it was reported in the newspapers that a 49-year old Gynaecologist and Chief Consultant of a hospital in Edo State(Western Nigeria) injected himself with yet to be disclosed substance. He later hanged himself with his belt in his wardrobe. These individuals seemed well to do. They had luxury cars, one was even managing director of his hospital. They couldn’t have been poorer than the old man who knocks at my gate hoping to get a tip to feed himself and his aging wife. I’m sure they were better than the old widow whose husband left her with nothing and lives in an uncompleted apartment down the street. She lives alone and very depressed. She’s now seen almost by everyone as going crazy. They were far better than the lady who had to rush to church begging for N6,000 ($30) to pay the medical bills of her 8-month old baby in a neighbouring hospital. They are better than those beggars on the streets who sit under the sun and in the rain beckoning on others so they can eat. Has it ever bothered you why they committed suicide?

Breaking the Ice

Let’s break it down; money comes to us all with fears and need to grab and grab. Some of the things we grab end up prompting a new set of fear in us– “I want to drive the latest car”. Now that you have it, you want to drive the latest one. Every latest purchase is replaced with a better one after a short while. Consumer products hardly outlive six months. There will always be better options again and again.

So, how do you feel when you see people in need and you turn away from them? Around you are people needing help. They are everywhere. I’ve seen people struggling and others comfortable. I’ve seen extreme poverty…I’ve seen a mother cry over her inability to feed her baby. I’ve seen old people knocking doors to beg for food. I’ve seen people betrayed for money. I’ve seen lovers killing each other over a deal, I’ve seen and heard people trade their family name for money on the alter of indecency. All to make money!

The True Cost Revealed!

I’ve found out that happiness comes from happenings around us – the smile we help keep on the faces of others; the hope we give the hopeless, the word of courage we share with the destitute; the food we share with the hungry; the difference we make no matter how little.

Knowing that your action is the reason your friends and neighbors smile, is striking a cord on happiness. Moments when you share the little you have will always come back to you with memories to make you happy.

Your expensive shoes would wear out but those you protected will not. Kindness is a baton, when you pass it, you get happiness in turn. It’s a silent contract between humanity and posterity. It starts with your desire to help others. No amount of money can buy the desire; just as no amount of money can buy you happiness. It is exclusive. Why do you think some people volunteer to help others? How easy is it for some to cross thousands of miles and lend a helping hand to fighting the deadly ebola virus in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. How profitable is it for them to leave their families and friends to help others who are in need? The answer is a secret and the secret is such activity comes with a lot of happiness. The feeling you get when you help someone succeed.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF TELEVISION CONTINENTAL (TVC NEWS)

Radio Continental, RC 102.3FM as it is currently known, is a member of the independent Media outfit, ‘Continental Broadcasting Service, CBS.

RC could be said to have found its roots in 2005. The station was then known as ‘Link FM’. The idea behind its formation was to generate purely entertainment and sports programmes with a unique drive to capture the general mass audience. The station’s strength of transmission could be found within Lagos and select states in the South West. Test transmission began in December 2005. Full broadcast commenced April 2006.

By the fall of 2007, the station, based on a directive from the National Broadcasting Commission, assumed a new branding; it became known as ‘G-65’. The change in name, however did not alter the philosophy. A further change came months later with the brand name, ‘Radio Continental’.

The station, due to this change, reassessed its contribution to the public. It became ‘people-focused’, conversational and Talk oriented. The concept ensured the establishment of a cordial relationship between serious issues and entertainment.

The fusion of hard core politically infused programmes with a blend of entertainment surfaced, giving the listener the opportunity to be a part of the various discussions. Thus, RC became the rallying point of conversations with the toga, ‘the conversation station’.

The station in run under the office of the Director Radio Services and coordinated by a Station Manager. The departments include; Production; Presentation; News/Current Affairs; Commercial

Production is made up of Producers, Researchers and Sound Engineers. 

Presentation includes the services of; On Air Personalities; Presenters and Disc Jockeys. The News/Current Affairs accommodate; The Manager. Reporters; Editors and Secretary. Commercial is run by; The Sales Manager and Sale Executives.

Currently, there is a central control in the area of Human Resources/Administration and Finance/Audit. These departments adequately represent and merge the functions of RC with the other arms of the Continental Broadcasting Service. The arms include; TVC Entertainment; TVC News; TVC News Nigeria; Adaba FM, Ondo and Unique FM, Ilesha.

RC prides its successful operation on an ‘A’ list of highly revered Broadcast veterans and selective array of young impressionable hands seeking brilliant exposure.

CREDITS: TOKUNBO OJEKUNLE AND IDRIS KASUMU 'ALOOMA'

Fuel crisis: Nigeria oil marketers call-off strike

Oil marketers in Nigeria have agreed to call-off their strike with immediate effect.

They have also agreed to commence the immediate lifting of petroleum products across Nigeria in the next six hours.

This is contained in an agreement brokered by the Nigerian Senate after a meeting between the oil marketers and the Federal Government.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Downstream, Senator Magnus Abe announced this at the end of the meeting at the National Assembly complex in Abuja on Monday.

The agreement also states that the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) should immediately revoke the license of any oil marketer that refuses to lift petroleum products across Nigeria.

With this development, PENGASSAN, NUPENG, MOMAN, IPMAN and all other officials also addressed the press where they affirmed the resolutions and agreement.

The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was present at the hearing and endorsed the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government.

Nigeria now has 743, 062 internally displaced persons — NEMA

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has recorded about 743, 062 persons that were internally displaced by conflicts and natural disasters in various parts of the country, Director General of the agency Muhammad Sani Sidi, has said.

The spokesperson for the agency, Manzo Ezekiel, quoted Mr. Sidi as disclosing this in Calabar at the opening of the annual consultative meeting of the National Emergency Management Agency with the heads of all the States Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), explaining that 676, 975 of the persons were displaced by conflicts and 66, 087 by natural disasters as at September 2014.

The Director General NEMA, according to Mr. Ezekiel, also said that “disaster occurrences and the number of affected people have risen significantly in recent years as a result of the impacts of climate change, insurgency, communal conflicts and skirmishes between farmers and pastoralists amongst others. This has no doubt impacted negatively in the area of our development as a nation aside the humanitarian crisis attendant thereto.”

These, he said, require urgent collective action of the stakeholders to complement the steps taken by the Federal Government which has been providing necessary assistance to the affected persons through the National Emergency Management Agency. “The challenges faced by displaced persons call for serious commitment” adding that NEMA would continue to collaborate with the stakeholders to ensure that the distressed persons are properly taken cared of.

He assured that “we will continue to do this as it constitute our primary responsibility to our citizens”.

On the consultative meeting, the Director General of NEMA, Mr. Sidi said it was designed to appraise the available structures, facilities, challenges and prospects for efficient and effective disaster management in the country.

The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Effiok Cobham, who represented Governor Liyel Imoke, while declaring open the meeting, appreciated the role of NEMA in the improvement of disaster management in the country. He urged the participants to identify and advised government on measures that focus on disaster prediction and prevention.

SOURCE: https://www.premiumtimesng.com 

Nigerian Media and 2015 elections

 It is no doubt an election season and all actors and stakeholders are gearing up for the battle ahead given that election is war in Nigeria. Sometimes, it is civil combat; other times, it is uncivil war. As part of preparations for the 2015 elections, the intellectual arm or the “ivory tower” of the Independent National Electoral Commission known as The Electoral Institute on Monday, October 20, organised a one-day roundtable at its Abuja headquarters to discuss some salient issues that can define the oncoming polls. The forum deliberated on issues of voter education, election violence and the role of the media in the 2015 elections. It was the maiden edition and yours truly was privileged to be among the eminent resource persons carefully selected to do justice to the topics under discussion.

Prof. Chike Okolocha, a sociologist from the University of Benin, made a presentation on “Strategies and Methods towards Improving Voter Education in 2015 General Elections,” while Dr. Adelaja Odukoya, a political scientist from my alma mater, University of Lagos, presented a paper on “Elections and Violence in Nigeria: Key Issues and Challenges towards 2015 General Elections.” It was my lot to present on the “Media and the Electoral Process: Developing Strategic Partnership with Stakeholders.” There were three discussants as well: Comrade John Odah, a former Secretary General of the Nigerian Labour Congress, discussed Okolocha’s paper, while Dr. John Abhuere, a former director in the National Youth Service Corps discussed Odukoya’s. Hajia Saudatu Mahdi, MFR, a women’s rights activist, whom I fondly call “my mother in the development work”, discussed mine. Prof. Okelo Occuli chaired the roundtable while there were remarks from Prof. Abubakar Momoh, the Director General of TEI and Mrs. Seija Sturies, Fredrich Ebert Stiftung Resident Representative.

In my presentation, I traced the origin of the Nigerian media to 155 years ago when Rev. Henry Townsend established, in Abeokuta, Iwe Iroyin fun awonara Egbaati Yoruba, a Yoruba vernacular newspaper. It debuted in 1859. I observed that the Nigerian media is one of the freest in Africa, in spite of its numerous challenges. The Nigerian media, I opined, is very vibrant and acknowledged as one of those who successfully fought for the return of democracy in the country in 1999. Equally, I articulated all the legal provisions backing and regulating media practice in Nigeria such as sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended in 2010, the Freedom of Information Act 2011, the Nigerian Broadcasting Act, the Nigerian Press Council Act, the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists, etc.

While drawing a lot of inspiration from the Election Reporting Handbook developed and published by IMAPCS Associate, Ross Howard, I noted there was no gainsaying that the media, generally referred to as the Fourth Estate of the Realm is one of the most powerful influences on how an election runs inside the country, and how it is perceived from outside. Undoubtedly, there must be free speech so all citizens and all political candidates can speak without fear. The media, I further observed, must be free to tell everyone what was said without pressure to twist the truth. As recommended in the aforementioned Handbook, media focus during this season should primarily be on three things: Political parties and contestants, the issues and the voting process. Good journalistic practice in election reporting must take cognisance of: Accuracy; Impartiality; and Responsibility. I did enjoin my media colleagues that their reports on elections should not be malicious, libelous, seditious, defamatory, sensational; and corruptive.

In an answer to my poser about who needs the media in the electoral process, I listed all the stakeholders including the election management bodies i.e. INEC and State Independent Electoral Commissions, political parties and contestants, the non-governmental organisations working in the field of election, the security agents, the judiciary and the electorates. For example, the EMBs need the media in order to propagate their actions and decisions to the public as it is part of electoral accountability and transparency principles. Also, any political party or aspirant to political office who wishes to be taken seriously has to embark on self-marketing via the media. Thus, newspaper advertorials, jingles, billboards, flyers, websites, commissioned interviews in print and electronic media, press releases and press conferences are all part of the political game. Little wonder, media houses upwardly review their political advert rates during elections.

In analysing the role of the media itself in election, I did mention that the Nigerian media as part of its corporate social responsibilities during electioneering embark on the following activities: organising political debates among candidates; conducting of opinion polling; endorsement of candidates; agenda setting through editorials as well as staff training on political and election reporting.

I submitted that as a way of building strategic partnership among the stakeholders, all the election stakeholders must recognise the primacy importance of the media in the electoral process. Therefore, deliberate attempts must be made to build the capacity of the media practitioners by INEC on how to report responsibly on the electoral process. This could be done by training political correspondents of media houses, seminar and conferences for media gatekeepers such as editors, managing directors and publishers/ proprietors. There is also the avenue of sponsorship of programmes on different media platforms.

I did enjoin political parties and their contestants to deliberately cultivate the media in a responsible way by ensuring that factual and unbiased information are passed on to the media for dissemination to the public. Not only that, they should refrain from unduly inducing the media from performing their duties in a professional manner. Hate speeches, inflammatory statements, inciting comments and things that can heat up the polity should be avoided during campaigns. Political campaigns should be issue based!

I did not fail to share some words of advice to media practitioners in Nigeria. Without mincing words, media reportage of electoral events must uphold the code of ethics for journalists. Media practitioners should understand that their reports attracts global consumption, hence, national interest must guide their actions and decisions. Yellow journalism should not have a place in the reportage of electoral process in Nigeria while journalists should ensure fair, balance, accurate and responsible reportage of electoral events.This is a tall order considering the numerous challenges faced by the Nigerian media which range from the ownership structure (most media outfits are owned by government or private individuals who are politically exposed persons and tend to undermine the independence of their media organisations); inclement business environment leading to high cost of production and low sales; under resourced media organisations (many media outfits owe their staff salaries and allowances, equipment are old and not regularly maintained, little or no budget for investigations) as well as government and terrorist harassments. There are also the problems of untrained citizens’ journalists operating via social media (e.g. bloggers); weak regulatory agencies and high mortality of media houses.

Jide Ojo

INEC, I opined, has a pivotal role to play in coordinating this strategic partnership with the Nigerian media. The commission must not only sustain its current robust engagements with the media but must also improve on it as part of its voter education strategy towards the 2015 polls.   The election stakeholders must work together as a team to ensure the delivery of free, fair, credible and violence free 2015 elections.

WRITTEN BY JIDE OJO

SOURCE: PUNCH NEWSPAPER