Some dignitaries with the author of the book titled “The Journalist, The Woman and Her Faith” Mrs Grace Yussuf at the book launch on Tuesday in Abuja.

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

Mrs Grace Yussuf, a Deputy Editor in Chief with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has shared her experiences in the profession to encourage younger female journalists finding it difficult to cope.

Yussuf shared the experiences in her book titled “The Journalist, The Woman and Her Faith” which was launched on Tuesday in Abuja.

She explained that the decision to write the book came out of her desire to document her experiences as a female journalist and a practicing Christian.

“I believe that it will not only be a good reading for many but will also go a long way to encouraging younger female journalists, who may be finding difficulty to cope especially if they had to hold on to their faith and values.

“It is my intention too, that this book will serve as a story of resilience, hard work, moral rectitude, a journey of faith and adherence to Christian virtues even in the practice of an utterly socially-relevant profession as journalism.

“I say this because there is this general belief that journalists are unserious and frivolous. This puts women in a precarious position as it makes them more vulnerable than their male counterparts,” she said.

Mr Joe Bankole, a Media Consultant, while reviewing the book, said that Yussuf having spent her life as a working journalist from 1992 to 2023 shared her 31 years of tutelage, frustrations, disappointments, sweet memories and all-round victory.

According to Bankole, the combination of the above-listed situations made her a success in the course of this interesting journey something to savour.

“Journalism is not a profession I deliberately went into, however, I found myself in it after a few years in the private sector and I grew to learn, embrace and love it. I can safely say it paid off” .

“That was a quote from the introduction to the book. That sums up her incursion into the profession and the conclusion of her experience,” he explained.

He, therefore, recommended the book to all lovers of a disciplined life and one dedicated to the praise of God Almighty.

On her part, Prof. Joy Ezeilo, the Executive Director, Women Aid Collective (WACOL) said that Yussuf balanced her role as a mother and journalist.

“I recall her contributions not only in the economic industry but also in female and gender in Nigeria. I enjoin all of us to support this wonderful woman, who has made herself outstanding.

“And as the topic suggests “The Journalist, The Woman and Her Faith” when I picked up her book; I saw a woman, who, regardless of stereotype in the industry, she was able to balance the role of a mother and her vocation as a journalist,” she said.

Ezeilo, was represented by Mrs Ijeoma Ezeude, Head, Department of Legal Unit, WACOL.

Similarly, Mr Femi Adeshina, Special Assistant to the President on Media commended the author for the initiative.

“This book is the odyssey of a courageous woman, who came out victorious after navigating the world of journalism in Nigeria and beyond after 31 years,” he said.

Adeshina was represented by Ms Patience Tilleygyado, Assistant Director, Information, State House, Abuja.

Mrs Grace Yussuf is a Nigerian female journalist with a career at the News Agency of Nigeria.

She is a committed Christian, widely travelled, happily married with children. (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

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Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli, SERVICOM National Coordinator presenting SCE reports to Alhaji Garba Abubakar, CAC Registrar-General

By Okon Okon

The Service Compact with all Nigerians (SERVICOM) has rated the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in the quality of service delivery to Nigerians.

Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli, National Coordinator SERVICOM, presented the SERVICOM Compliance Evaluating (SCE) reports of selected states offices to CAC Registrar-General, Alhaji Garba Abubakar, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The objective of SCE, she said, is to ensure citizen focused service delivery in MDAs to identify gaps in service delivery and making recommendations to improve customers satisfaction and accountability.
Akajemeli said CAC had done well in all the locations visited by SERVICOM team, except in some areas identified and recommended for its improvement.
According to her, customers interviewed at the Headquarters for instance complained that fees charges for daily search from N2, 000 to N50, 000 were too high.
She added that the hike in such charges had made access to service cumbersome to its customers.
“The management of CAC should consider reducing the fee for daily search to accommodate all customers. This will ensure that all customer group have been put into consideration. “
The SERVICOM boss also identified downtime experienced by the customers when making an online application, thereby making documents submitted not received, resulting to the query of such documents.
“Some customers complained of technical glitches in the system, resulting in the challenges during the registration process that take a significant amount of time to resolve”.
She also identified other areas of weaknesses to includes direct interaction with customers, outdated computer system in some offices visited among others.
Akajemeli, nevertheless, lauded the CAC management in area of monitoring of staff performances through a dash board to ensure that all task queue sent daily were cleared daily.
She recommended ‘adoption of customer-centric approach service delivery’ among other approaches for the commission to provide opportunity for a staff to directly interact with customers.
Responding, Abubakar, thanked SERVICOM for the reports which was carried out across the commission offices, adding that it was so important to them.
On charges and others, Abubakar admitted that the commission had some challenges ranging from ticketing system for customers to lay their complaints, missing of important documents due to free access to files by customers among others.
According to him, the commission observed some fraudulent acts by customers who have been having direct access to records by removing them away from the files which had forced them to operate electronically.
“There are instant where complete files were being removed from this office.
“So, we have to stop the system of giving people access to our files, even if you must have access, we make it so expensive. For you to require this access, you have to be under supervision .
“We have introduced other systems and if you must conduct a search, we make it so expensive to discourage people from coming here.”
The CAC boss explained that the electronic system introduced since 2021 became imperative to protect the integrity of their records.
He added that the commission had introduced a call centre with agents who receive calls and could chat directly with the customers.
According to him, the centralisation system in the commission is a deliberate decision because of electronic systems for effective processes.
He, however, advised the CAC management not to take SERVICOM reports as an indictment, rather as a feedback mechanism for service improvement. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
MZM/SH
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edited by Sadiya Hamza

Dignitaries at the unveiling of a book titled: “The Journalist, The Woman and Her Faith” authored by Mrs Grace Yussuf, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief , News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja. 

By Gabriel Agbeja

Mr Femi  Adesina , the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, has described Mrs Grace Yussuf, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief , News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as an epitome of knowledge.

Adesina, who was represented by Mrs Patience Tilleygyado , the Assistant Director, Information, State House, said this on Tuesday in Abuja  at the launching of a book authored by Yussuf.

He said Yussuf had displayed special skills in writing the book titled “ The Journalist, The Woman and Her Faith“ that really worthy of emulation.

The Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Buki Ponle,also described Yussuf as a journalist with difference in her reportage as a journalist.

Ponle, who was represented by Mr Mufutau Ojo , the Director of Special Duties in the Agency , said” Yussuf  is a celebrated Journalist as the presence of the crowd had proved it.”

The managing director pledged to keep promoting such laudable initiative among members of  NAN staff, adding that he would further celebrate NAN Journalists who excelled in their endeavours.

He advised young female journalists to take a lead from Yussuf and put down their experiences in writing.

“Many have put in two to three decades in the profession. The new ones should learn from Grace Yussuf that have put in over three decades in the profession.

” The book is interesting and exciting. I recommend it to others to buy to take cue from there,” he said.

Prof. Joy Ezedo, Women Aid Collective (WACOL) said Yussuf had made herself outstanding among women through her personal efforts.

Ezedo , who was represented by Mrs Ijeoam Ezeude , WACO  Head of Legal Unit, said the author was worthy emulated as she had balanced the roles of wife, mother and journalist.

Mr Joe Bankole, a former Managing Editor, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who reviewed the book said it was a typical story of a typical professional in a typical Nigerian setting spared none from pains and comfort.

According to him, the book titled “ The Journalist, The Women and Her Faith“ is a “Memoirs of a Nigerian Female Journalist“.

Bankole said the uniqueness of the book reflected in the sincerity, passion and candour with which the author told the story.

“It is a beautiful work of art that is good and pedagogical.

“It provides the platform for an enduring litany or lessons for young professionals in the field, working journalists and Christian women who want to stick to their faith no matter challenges in any sphere of life.

“I proudly recommended this book to all of a disciplined life, and one dedicated to the praise of God Almighty,” he said.

Mrs Grace Yussuf, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), thanked everyone that came for the occasion.

The author further thanked everyone that had helped her during service years and those she had leant from to attain the feat.

Yussuf said she had covered many beats, including , Economy  and Industry beat for NAN and visited USA, Spain, Japan, South Africa, Gabon, Cameroon and Gambia to report events. (NAN)

FGA/IAA

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola