Author Archives: daudupress

By Emmanuel Daudu

IPC’s Centre for Safety and Protection of Journalists (I-CSPJ) is extremely dismayed by and frowns at the reported police invasion of ABN TV and forced arrest of a guest during a live programme in Umuahia on Tuesday, 16th January, 2024.

According to a statement signed by Melody Akinjiyan, Press Freedom Officer, I-CSPJ on Friday disclosed that information reaching, I-CSPJ from its field monitor reveals that, “At about 2.40pm on Tuesday, January 16, 2023, the policemen invaded the station during a live programme, Youth Rendezvous to arrest a guest, Mr. Udensi Donald during a programme.”

“The police claimed a senior brother of the guest had written a petition against him over a family matter. Despite repeated plea by the staff to the officers to allow the programme come to an end before the guest could be arrested, they insisted on whisking him away while the live programme was on,” the Station’s Director, Ifeanyi Okali stated.

The Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said, “this provocative action by the police is simply an act of overzealousness which was unnecessary. The officers could easily have waited for the live programme to end before swinging into action.”

I-CSPJ is therefore calling on the Commissioner of Police, CP Kene Onwuemeile to call his officers to order and also ensure that the items belonging to the station which were damaged in the course of the invasion be replaced.

I-CSPJ is also demanding an apology on behalf of the affected station.

…As Group Managing Editor Makes Case for Financial Intervention for Credible Private Media Organisations

A US-based Independent Media-Research organisation, FeedSpot has recognised and ranked Time Nigeria Magazine among the best 20 magazines and publications in Nigeria.

FeedSpot dropped this on the 4th of January, 2024 in a post tagged: “Best 20 Nigeria Magazines & Publications” on its website link: https://magazines.feedspot.com/nigeria_magazines/?_src=search

Feedspot, which discovers, categorises, and ranks blogs, podcasts, and influencers in various industry categories, has curated over 250,000 popular blogs and categorised them in more than 5,000 niche categories and industries.

“The ranking by Feedspot is based on several factors such as relevancy, industry representation, blog post frequency, social media follower counts and engagement, domain authority, age of the blog, Alexa Web Traffic Rank, and many other parameters.

The expert editorial team at Feedspot reviews each blog before adding them to the relevant category list, ensuring that only influential, authority, and trustworthy bloggers are included in the rankings.

Time Nigeria Magazine is a general interest publication, was founded by young media practitioners with the aim of creating uniqueness in magazine reporting in Nigeria. The magazine uses the finest ethos of journalism to promote peace among citizens, identify and harness the nation’s vast resources, celebrate achievements of government agencies, individuals, groups, and corporate organizations, and, above all, reposition the country for the needed growth and development.

Abdulrahman Aliagan, the Group Managing Editor and Publisher of Time Nigeria Magazine, expressed gratitude for the recognition by Feedspot, highlighting the magazine’s dedication to providing quality content to its readers.

He emphasized the importance of journalism in promoting peace and unity in Nigeria, as well as the magazine’s commitment to highlighting the achievements and potential of the country.

Aliagan noted, “For Time Nigeria being ranked among the top 20 magazines and publications in Nigeria by Feedspot further solidifies the Magazine’s reputation as a reliable and influential source of information. The magazine will continue to strive for excellence in reporting, contributing to the growth and development of Nigeria. ”

Aliagan seized the opportunity to urge government to the rescue of credible private media organizations in the face of numerous challenges, particularly, funding.

According to him, “Government plays a crucial role in creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, including media organizations. As Time Nigeria Magazine ranks among best 20 magazines and publications in the country, it is essential for the government to recognise the importance of encouraging investment in private media industry.

“Investing in private media organizations is vital for the growth and development of the industry. Media outlets are responsible for delivering accurate and objective information to the public, acting as the fourth estate and holding power to account. Robust investigations and in-depth reporting are crucial elements of journalism that can contribute to the overall development of any nation.”

Canvassing for financial intervention for private Media organization, Aliagan maintains that, “Media organizations require substantial financial resources to conduct investigations and consistently provide quality journalism. The need for government financial intervention in private Media cannot be overstated, as it enables the organization to expand its reach, improve its infrastructure, and attract top talent.

“In addition to government intervention in private media organization, Time Nigeria Magazine’s scribe is also soliciting for donations from individuals and corporate organisations who believe in the essence of media operations. These donations can support media in conducting more robust investigations and producing valuable content for its readers. It will also help to sustain the magazine’s independence and ensure the pursuit of truth and accountability.

“He also requests patronage from Nigerian businesses and advertisers. By advertising in the magazine, businesses can reach a wide audience and benefit from increased visibility and brand exposure. Special reporting and supplements offer unique opportunities for businesses to showcase their products, services, and initiatives to an engaged readership.

“By easing the process of doing business and encouraging investment in media organizations, government can promote a vibrant, free and independent media landscape in the country. This, in turn, leads to a more informed and engaged citizenry, fostering transparency, accountability, and the overall development of the nation. Aliagan maintains.

Time Nigeria was rated among other notable media organizations in Nigeria. Below are the order of ratings: 1. Pride Magazine, 2. Tell Magazine, 3. Today’s Women Magazine, 4. Legit, 5. City People Magazine, 6. Nigeria Magazine, 7. Financial Nigeria Magazine, 8. Brandessence Magazine, 9. The Will Town Magazine,  10. The News Magazine, 11. The Interview Magazine, 12. Time Nigeria Magazine, 13. Foreign Affairs Magazine,14.  New Line Magazine, 15. i-D Magazine, 16. Punch, 17. Premium Time.

About FeedSpot

At FeedSpot is dedicated to discovering, categorizing, ranking magazines and publications across a wide range of niche categories. With thousands of magazines and publications available online, identifying influential, authoritative, and trustworthy magazines in specific industries can be a challenging task. Our goal is to simplify your research and connect you with industry-specific insights and publications.

With the help of FeedSpot, PR Agencies and Marketing Professionals can quickly identify specific media lists Editors and Journalists across a range of specialized categories. Whether you’re organizing a product launch, looking for product reviews, sending out press releases, looking for shout-outs or opportunities, collaborating on branding and advertising, or collaborating with affiliates, FeedSpot gives you the tools to get in touch with the appropriate editors for your particular requirements.

Maryam Aminu

The Hon. Minister, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim has expressed the Ministry’s commitment to partner and collaborate with Katsina State and promised to create employment for Nigerian youths.

The Minister made this known while hosting the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Mallam Dikko Umar Radda PhD, and his team to her office, in Abuja yesterday.

She disclosed the plan of her ministry to establish youth village project in Katsina state that will be built around commodities with comparative advantage in the agricultural value chain like cotton.

” There is no better state to engage young people in cotton farming like Katsina. We hope to work with you to develop that value chain.”

She noted that it is one sector that is capable of generating jobs.

The Minister observed that the cotton from the north could be used to produce fabrics that can be supplied to other parts of the country like Aba market, thereby increasing economic interdependence and fostering equitable relationships and brotherliness among Nigerians.

Dr. Bio said the National Youth Bank will serve as a funding mechanism for the project that the Ministry wants to embark on when established.

She further said that the Ministry is in the process of mobilizing partners and resources for all these projects and considers Katsina state as a partner from the northwest geo-political zone.

In his address, the Katsina state governor, Dikko Umar Radda, disclosed that he was in the Ministry to seek area in which his state could partner with the youth ministry.

The governor emphasized that the focus of every administration should be on the teeming youth in the country if there must be development.

He said, “For us to develop as a nation we need to develop the youth, we need to roll out plans, initiatives and programmes that will have a bearing on the Nigerian Youth.”

He stressed the need for government to ensure that the youths are fully engaged and equipped to drive the economic development of the country.

The governor lamented the current situation where youths are idle and redundant, warning that it could serve as a fertile ground for recruitment of bandits and other criminals.

He said, ” I went round the 361 wards of my state during the electioneering campaign, I have seen the time bomb that is awaiting this country if nothing drastic is done about youth development.”

Earlier in his opening remarks, the new permanent secretary of the Ministry, Dr Umar Ahmed Dunoma, welcomed the governor and expressed the readiness of the Ministry to collaborate with Katsina state.

Maryam Aminu

Fixing Nigeria is a daunting proposition that will take spirited effort, require heavy lifting, and take some time to accomplish, but it is doable. Fixing Nigeria is possible because every single Nigerian knows that Nigeria is in a sorry state of systemic, structural, socio-political and economic disrepair and every single Nigerian agrees that Nigeria needs fixing. The only thing that has been lacking is a clear and sensible way of going about it. So for every Nigerian who has dreamt of a country that they could truly be proud of and for every Nigerian who has hoped for a bright new day in their beloved homeland where dreams are possible and aspirations are fulfilled, are the most sensible and most realistic solutions to Nigeria’s problems ever proposed.

It is in view of this that the Honourable Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande has urged Nigerian youth to rally together to fix the nation, as the country belongs to them.

Mr. Olawande made this call in Abuja when the leadership of the National Youth Leaders forum of all political parties in Nigeria led by the chairman of the forum ambassador Muhammed Awwal Musa paid him a courtesy visit.

Olawanded revealed that there are plans on the  ground to strengthen the Nigerian youth to ensure that they are equipped to fix the country.

The Honourable Minister lamented that the majority of the youths in the country are not skillful, a situation which according him, has given room for foreigners to take up jobs that Nigerians would have taken in private companies in the country.

He emphasized that it is time to kick start a youth campaign with the theme,  “One Youth, Two Skills.”

“Let’s come out with this campaign that it is unacceptable and an injustice for a youth in this country not to have a skill, and it is going to be a project that everyone must key into.”  He added.

Speaking on his planned programmes for the youths, he disclosed that these will include:  Engagemen with Inspector General of Police to avoid a recurrence of End SARS protest in 2020 which was in reaction to police brutality of the youth, a situation which he noted is still on.

The establishment of Nigeria Youth Academy, where youths will be trained,  engagement with Borno youths, estsblishment of Nigerian Youth radio and television, organisation of Nigerian Youth job fair, engagement with Nigerian youths in diaspora and youth startups  as well as  Nigerian Youth conference where Youths who have made a major impact in their carrier will be given recognition and required to encourage others to emulate them.

Earlier in his remarks,  Amb. Mohammed Awwal Musa, the Chairman National Youth Leaders Forum of all political parties in Nigeria, commended the Minister’s commitments on the progress of Nigerian youths.

He said that the major purpose of their visit was to let the Minister know that the forum had agreed to work with the present government irrespective of  their political differences.

Speaking also, the Chairman, Young Parliamentarian in the House of Representatives Honourable Ishaya David Lalu, appreciated the Minister ‘s open door policy, which, according to him demonstrates that he is ready to work.

He reminded the minister that he can not afford to fail, as uniting the Nigerian youth is one task that must be done

Maryam Aminu

The Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim has taken the decision to engage the National Commission for Persons With Disabilities NCPWD to ensure that the rights of young persons with disabilities are protected.

Dr. Bio-Ibrahim made this disclosure when she paid a courtesy visit on the Executive Secretary of National Commission on People living With Disability, (NCPWD), Mr. James David Lalu.

In a statement by the Head Press and Public Relations Maryam Umar Yusuf, Dr. Bio Ibrahim disclosed that her ministry has proposed some programs for persons living with disabilities within the six geopolitical zones. We also hope to bring more young people to learn about leadership that is required to address challenges of persons living with disabilities,”

She said, “I look forward to working with the commission to ensure that the rights of young people living with disabilities are protected and they live with dignity and earn very good sources of livelihood, then to take as many young people with disabilities off the streets as possible in order to give them a dignified life.

Responding, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. James Lalu, expressed optimism that the commission’s partnership with the ministry would yield positive results.

The Executive Secretary also called on governors to pass the disability law in their respective states.

He said, “I am optimistic that our partnership with the ministry for youth would yield a lot for youths this year. Presently, 21 states have passed the disability law in their respective states. Out of the 21 states, only 7 have started implementation of the law.”

Mr. Lalu appealed to the states that have passed the law to consider and start implementation immediately while calling on those who are yet to key into the programme to do so.

“We are also calling on states yet to do anything to key in and give opportunity to persons with disabilities. We have very smart and intelligent persons with disabilities who have the skills to provide leadership,” he said.

Maryam Aminu

There is a growing recognition of the importance of promoting the active and meaningful participation of young people in policy and decision-making processes. Policy makers and practitioners are increasingly acknowledging youth as key stakeholders and future leaders and decision-makers.

Empowering young people to play an active role in development and policy processes is crucial for National development

By encouraging young people to actively participate in decision-making processes, society can benefit from their energy, creativity, and fresh, diverse perspectives, ultimately leading to more inclusive and effective policies that address the needs and goals of all generations

The Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio-Ibrahim has promised to engage the relevant youth bodies in any decision-making process of the Ministry that concerns them.

The Honourable Minister made this promise at her Federal Secretariat office, Abuja, on Friday 12th January, 2024 when the leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) paid her a courtesy visit.

While addressing the team, Dr Bio-Ibrahim, who lamented that the meeting was long overdue, attributed the delay to her desire to adequately make preparations to attend to their demands.

In a statement by the Head, Press and Public Relations, Maryam Umar Yusuf, Dr. Bio emphasized the preparedness of the Ministry to ensure that its engagement with the youth yields meaningful results.

“The Ministry is very mindful not to sell the message of falsehood to the youth as the trust between government and the young people has long been broken.” She said.

The Honourable Minister also reiterated that the Ministry had made plans to take proactive measures to ensure that trust is built and building that trust must be built on the foundation of sincerity and transparency.

She assured them that she would not betray the confidence that the President reposed on her through her appointment as Minister of Youth.

” Mr President has not made a mistake by appointing me, I assure you that I came prepared, I understand the challenges confronting the youth because I am one of you”. She said.

Dr Bio-Ibrahim stressed the need for the Ministry to be adequately funded as it is currently short of funds.

She explained that the Ministry was in need of extra budgetary funding, adding that she started working in that direction since her assumption of office.

While speaking on the review of the National Youth Policy Committee she said, “The list of its membership is undergoing some adjustments which will include sixty per cent for the youths and forty per cent for the older generation, as the youth can not do it alone“

Speaking on the National Youth Investment Fund, Dr. Bio-Ibrahim said that disbursement has presently been put on hold at her behest so as to study the entire scheme and probably make some input before continuing.

Earlier in his speech, the President, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ambassador. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo disclosed that the purpose of their visit on the Honourable Minister was to draw her attention to their grievances with the ministry as the apex body of all the youths in Nigeria.

Sukubo noted that despite their mandates as the apex body, the desired recognition has not been accorded to them even though they were the ones who fought for the creation of Youth Ministry which led to the demerger of former Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

According to the president, the council wants the Ministry to carry them along when drafting the Ministry’s budget, and there should be adequate flow of information between them and the Ministry, as well as getting them fully involved in the implementation of programmes.

In her welcome address, the Director, Network and Social Mobilisation Department of the Ministry, Hajia Amina Daura, recounted the history of the council stating that the National Youth Council of Nigeria is an umbrella body that represents the interest and aspirations of Nigerian youths at both national and international levels.

She further said that it was founded in 1964 as a platform for youth engagement, empowerment, and participation in governance, with core principles of promoting peace, unity and ensuring that the voices of young people are heard in matters affecting them and the nation at large.

Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Nnamdi Azikiwe University (Unizik) on Friday, 12th January, 2024, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to build a weather station in the university.

Professor Charles Esimone signed on behalf of the Governing Council of Unizik while Professor Charles Anosike signed on behalf of NiMet.

Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, Professor Anosike charged the Management of Unizik to take leadership in downscaling NiMet’s annually issued Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) to farmers and other users in Anambra state and beyond.

“The MoU signed with Unizik to partner in building a weather station in the university is a big achievement for NiMet as the partnership will ensure that farmers and other users receive timely weather and climate information”, Professor Anosike said. He thanked Professor Esimone for the commitment shown in signing the MoU on behalf of Unizik, as it shows the importance the university attaches to weather and climate information.

In his response, Prof Esimone thanked Professor Anosike for the opportunity to collaborate with NiMet. “I am promising NiMet that Unizik will play its part in fulfilling the terms of the MoU which is a landmark accomplishment. Not only our local farmers, but our students, lecturers and researchers will benefit from this relationship especially in the areas of information on climate prediction and climate change”.

“Unizik will match the financial commitments of NiMet to the project by two because weather and climate information is critical to economic development”.

“We will also involve our Centre for Community Development (CCD) with this project so that we can improve on farmer education. NiMet should also consider training relevant Unizik staff to help sustain the terms of the MoU”, he concluded.

Professor Esimone was accompanied by
Professor Ifeanyi Christian Enete of the Department of Geography and Meteorology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, while Directors of NiMet also witnessed the signing of the MoU.