By Jumoke Olaitan/Lucy Ogalue
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has pledged media support for the Knights of St. Mulumba’s Endowment Fund and Charity Initiative aimed at sustaining the organisation’s humanitarian programmes.
NAN Managing Director, Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, made the pledge on Wednesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Knights to the agency’s headquarters.
Ali commended the organisation’s interventions in healthcare, education, support for vulnerable groups and prison inmates, describing its humanitarian and peacebuilding efforts as worthy of national support.
He assured the organisation of extensive publicity for the endowment inauguration, saying NAN would provide maximum coverage of the event at no cost.
Ali said that NAN remained committed to factual reporting and would continue to provide platforms for initiatives that promoted national unity and development.
According to him, the agency’s nationwide presence and partnerships with international news organisations position it to amplify stories from local communities to global audiences.
Earlier, Sir Johnson Jimoh, Metropolitan Grand Knight, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, said the endowment fund was established to provide sustainable financing for the organisation’s humanitarian activities.
Jimoh said the initiative was introduced to reduce dependence on membership dues, levies and donations, noting that the fund’s capital would be invested while only interest and dividends would be utilised.
He said proceeds from the fund would support victims of sectarian violence, healthcare services, education, prison apostolate and legal aid programmes.
Jimoh added that the organisation would seek partnerships with foundations, corporate bodies and government agencies to expand its humanitarian interventions and deepen service to humanity.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
JUM/LCN/AMM