By Chinenye Offor

British High Commissioner in Nigeria Richard Montgomery has applauded the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN’s) professionalism and leading role in the growth of the media, not just in Nigeria but in Africa as a continent.

Montgomery expressed the thought in Abuja on Tuesday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of NAN, Malam Ali M. Ali.

The British envoy said the agency, through its operational standards, contributed meaningfully to advancing the growth of the media space in the country.

“The agency has a pivotal role to play in the media environment, and what we always find impressive about Nigeria is that NAN has an incredibly diverse media landscape, and multiple channels with regional and national news coverage.

 “Some news agencies attempt to put out balanced news and you have to think carefully about what the news is, glancing into your mission statement.

“We see NAN as one of the critical media agencies in Nigeria.

“I am quite conscious that Nigeria could be quite a difficult place to be a journalist. Yes, there is media freedom but there are also massive media challenges.

“I think if you look at international comparative indices we are admiring journalists, people who made it their career to be part of the media sector.

“We must keep talking to each other about media freedom and professionalism. Sometimes there are political challenges, so we admire people who uphold the profession and standards.”

Responding, the managing director of NAN acknowledged the long-standing relationship between the agency and the high commission.

He said the agency would continue to maintain its position as the biggest news content provider, not just in the country, but across Africa.

“We are the biggest on the continent; we have offices in the southern parts of Africa, notably in South Africa.

“We have had a long-standing relationship with the high commission and the British Council over the years, over many decades.

“We have lived by our core mandate as NAN and we will attain 50 years of existence and operation as a news agency. We welcome the idea of training and retraining of our staff.

“We are in dire need of work tools.

“Many young Nigerians have benefited immensely from the exposure offered to us by the British Council many years ago.

“We have a strong affinity with the United Kingdom and look forward to greater cooperation and a robust relationship with the high commission under your leadership,” Ali said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Benson Iziama/Emmanuel Yashim

Bulgarian news agency chief says news should be free

Mr Kiri Valchev, Director-General of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), has said that news should not be treated as a commodity but as a human right.

He was speaking during the second day of science readings hosted by Sofia University’s Faculty of Law and dedicated to the 300th birth anniversary of German philosopher Immanuel Kant.

The event was equally dedicated to the 125th birth anniversary of Bulgarian philosopher and university lecturer, Tseko Torbov.

A copy of his paper titled: “The Challenges of Information Society”, was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), in Abuja on Sunday.

Valchev had presented a thesis on “The Right to Knowledge as a Fundamental Human Right&”, which he is currently working on.

“I have suggested that access to BTA’s news be made free, contrary to the practice established over its more than 120-year history.

“Parliament accepted my proposal, which I defended with the simple argument that when fake news is easily and freely available, real news should be equally accessible and free,” Valchev said.

“This change had to be explained to the community of news agency executives in international organisations of which BTA is a member, because the very existence of these agencies depends on a purely commercial approach to news as a commodity that has to be sold.

“Here, I referred to Kant, who puts ‘good will’ before ‘wealth’ and individual natural rights before the right to property.

“But, what is the natural right of man from which, we can assume, the necessity of free access to real news is derived?

“The answer is the right to knowledge,” Valchev said.

The BTA boss further noted that if the right to information is derived from the fundamental right to knowledge as is the right to education, this implies that news should not be regarded as a commodity on the market, but as a human right.

“Consequently, human societies, or states, as public entities, must secure – including with public money – the institutions responsible for the knowledge of facts, such as the mass media, while guaranteeing their independence.

“This implies that the media should be treated as schools and cultural institutions that preserve and provide access to national and universal cultural values.

“Otherwise, access to real news would be in serious conflict with the realisation of a fundamental human right, tantamount to the right to life being only available to those who pay for it,” he argued. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

By Maureen Okon

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Embassy in Nigeria on Friday donated 50 tonnes of dates to the Federal Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the donation was presented by the Saudi Amb. to Nigeria, Mr Faisal Alghamdi.

Dates are basically tropical fruits that are grown on date palm trees.

It is scientifically known as phoenix dactylifera and is one of the healthiest fruits in the world.

It was received by Amb. Murtala Jimoh, the Deputy Director, Middle East and Gulf Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on behalf of the Nigerian Government.

Alghamdi said that the humanitarian donation reflected the brotherly bond between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia that had lasted for decades.

According to him, the Saudi government through the King Salman’s Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief), has been providing necessary humanitarian assistance to Nigeria at different sectors of the economy.

The ambassador said that it was part of the country’s continued commitment aimed at alleviating the sufferings of people in distress.

“To fulfill its humanitarian pioneering role all over the world, my country has handed over more than 50 tonnes of dates to the friendly and brotherly Nigerian Government, in addition to the 50 tonnes of dates distributed in Kano on Wednesday.

“The relief centre has been providing necessary humanitarian assistance to Nigeria at various fields, the most recent is the execution of Et’am three Initiative done in March through the distribution of food baskets to 5,606 beneficiaries.

“In Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Borno and Abuja, at the cost of 40, 000 dollars.

“Furthermore, Suadi government through the KSRelief carried out a medical diagnostic campaign in Abuja, Kano and Lagos in the last quarter of 2023, in which different medical procedures were offered free of charge to Nigerians.

“Today’s handover of dates is part of the annual humanitarian and relief assistance presented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosque to a number of friendly countries, among which is Nigeria,’’ he said.

Responding, Amb. Jimoh, lauded the initiative of the Saudi government, saying that the 50 tonnes of dates would be distributed accordingly.

According to him, the donation of 50 tonnes of dates from the Saudi Government through the KSRelief means a lot to us, and the dates is meant for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Victims of Natural Disasters across the country, particularly in the IDPs camps.

“So, we took a little of the 50 tonnes of dates last week at the MFA and we are here for the symbolic handing over,

“Also this afternoon, Amb. Adamu Ibrahim, the Permanent Secretary MFA, will formally hand over these dates to the Permanent Secretary of the Humanitarian Ministry for onward transmission to affected people across the country.

“So it goes a long way to demonstrate the cordial relationship between Nigeria and the Kingdom, and this is not the first time this gesture is being extended to us.

“It has been done over a period of time that even food materials were supplied to the affected people across the IDPs camps in the country,’’ he said.

According to him, both countries are strategic partners in their respective regions and are key players in these regions.

“The two countries are strategic countries in their respective regions, in Africa Nigeria is a major player while in the middle-east and gulf, Saudi Arabia is a big player as well.

“The cultural relations have existed, even before the independence of the two countries. We have the religious tourism which has been the core relationship in the past.

“But in the present administration of President Bola Tinubu, he has placed emphasis on a cordial and strategic relationship with the government of Saudi Arabia through the crown Prince and various areas of partnership were discussed.

“The two leaders also agreed on the establishment of the Nigeria-Saudi Arabia business council which will drive the economic relationship moving forward,’’ he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

By Fortune Abang

President Xi Jinping of China, on Friday met with the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

In a statement by the China Africa Press Centre, President Xi said that this year marked the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the U.S.

The statement quoted President Xi saying, “ over the past 45 years, the relationship has gone through winds and rains, and has a number of important inspirations to offer.

“China and the U.S., should be partners rather than rivals; help each other succeed rather than hurt each other; seek common ground and reserve differences, rather than engage in vicious competition.

“Both should honour words with actions, rather than say one thing but do the opposite. I proposed mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, to be the three overarching principles.

“They are both lessons learned from the past and a guide for the future. At present, transformation not seen in a century is unfolding in a profound way, and the international situation is fluid and turbulent.

“It is the shared desire of the two people and the international community to see China and the U.S. strengthen dialogue, manage differences and advance cooperation.

“I have said many times before that the planet is big enough to accommodate the common development and respective prosperity of China and the U.S.

“China is happy to see a confident, open, prosperous and thriving United States,” Xi stated.

The Chinese president expressed hope that the U.S. could also look at China’s development in a positive light.

This, according to him, is fundamental issue that must be addressed, just like the first button of a shirt that must be put right, in order for the China-U.S. relationship to truly stabilise, improve and move forward.

“When President Biden and I met in San Francisco last year, we launched the San Francisco vision that is future-oriented.

“In the last couple of months, the two teams have followed upon our common understanding, maintained communication in various areas, and made some good progress.

“There are still issues to be addressed, which require further efforts. Your visit this time was agreed upon between President Biden and I in our phone call several weeks ago. I hope you will find it productive.” he added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Omowole

By Sarafina Christopher

The China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) with support of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, renovated and donated learning materials to China-Assisted Model Primary School Nyanya, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the distribution of the learning materials was done at the inauguration of the upgraded primary school in Abuja.

Mr Zhou Hao, Managing Director, CRBC Nigeria, whole handing over the materials to the school, said that the items would promote and strengthen education in Nigeria.

Hao emphasised the need for a better learning environment for teachers and students as education was important.

He added that among peoples of different continents, there was a common ground that transcends ethnicity and nationality which is children, who fill the world with hope and brightness.

” Children represent the future’s expectations and aspirations, and they rightfully deserve a better life.

” We believe that improving children’s educational conditions and environments is a shared goal among people from all sectors both China and Nigeria.

” Thus, as a Chinese company operating in Nigeria, we are very eager and honored to contribute our part to the educational efforts in Nigeria,” he said.

He noted that looking at the developmental needs of the Nigerian government and people; CRBC was committed to serving the socio-economic development and improved the livelihood of Nigerians.

” With nearly 10 projects being implemented in Nigeria, covering areas such as roads, railways, flood control, terminals, and chemical industries,

” We will fully utilise our own resources to continuously promote the development of infrastructure and boost economic in Nigeria through our actions,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Zhang Yi, Chargé d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria said that CRBC among others are actively fulfilling their social responsibilities by giving back to the local people.

Zhang said the company does this while carrying out production and operation activities in Nigeria.

“After learning about the aging of some of the school’s office desks and chairs, classroom, blackboards and bathroom facilities, CRBC took the initiative to ask the Chinese Embassy for instructions.

” They expressed their willingness to undertake the repairs of the school and provide learning materials for students so as to provide a better learning environment for all,’’ he said.

Also, Dr Alhassan Sule, Executive Chairman, Education Bureau of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) commended Chinese Government for their continuous support towards improving the quality of education in the country.

He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment towards strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

On his part, Mrs Dada Galadima, the acting Headmistress of the school expressed gratitude to CRBC and the embassy for their unrelenting efforts to contribute to the growth and development of students.

NAN reports that the learning materials includes notebooks, pencils, erasers, rulers, sports equipment, desks, chairs among others.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Halima Sheji

By Chinenye Offor

The United Kingdom has announced Nigeria as one of the countries benefiting from the one billion pounds Global Fund against malaria and other diseases during the period of 2024 to 2026.

Dr Ebere Anyachukwu, the Health Adviser, British High Commission (BHC) said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, in commemoration of the World Malaria Day.

Anyachukwu said that government of the UK contributed the money to a global fund that mobilised resources for countries to fight diseases.

According to him, the one billion pounds is added to the funds coming from other donors, to be managed by global fund to tackle malaria and other diseases in Nigeria.

He added that it was from those funding that payment for things like insecticide-treated bed nets, diagnostics testing for malaria and also for chemoprevention were made.

“There are some states in Nigeria where malaria is seasonal. Those are states where chemoprevention is used to prevent children from coming down with malaria.

“In those states, malaria spreads in a few months within a year, and during that period, there is a high level of malaria transmission in children, resulting in lots of deaths,” he said.

The health adviser said that children in such states were usually given malaria drugs, whether or not they have malaria.

“These are part of measures by global fund that have significantly reduced the level of sicknesses and deaths in children,” he said.

He said that the UK was a big contributor to the global fund, which is currently supporting about 13 states in Nigeria.

He listed the states to include Adamawa, Delta, Gombe,  Jigawa,   Kaduna,  Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Niger, Ogun , Osun, Yobe and Taraba.

“With the global funding support, there has been a significant reduction of malaria related deaths in children in Nigeria.

“In 2008, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that Nigeria had about 221, 000 malaria related deaths. But by 2022, the figure was about 189,000 deaths.

“There is a significant reduction due to the intervention of global fund, even when there was an increase in the nation’s population.

“Lots of lives have been saved  over the years because people now have access to health care facilities funded by these interventions,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Halima Sheji

By Mark Longyen

African Leaders are determined to uproot terrorism and unconstitutional changes in government, ECOWAS and African Union ambassadors have said.

The envoys made this known in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the end of a consultation meeting between ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) and AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) on Thursday in Abuja.

They said terrorism and unconstitutional change in governance were the two major existential threats facing the continent.

Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner, Political Affairs, Peace and Security, for instance, disclosed that ECOWAS’ MSC and AU’s PSC were already intensifying numerous efforts towards resolving the asymmetric challenges facing Africa.

He said that such efforts were being vigorously carried out under the auspices of the AU’s 1999 Convention against terrorism, and ECOWAS’ 2019 plan of action for the eradication of terrorism.

“It is about how we should institutionalise predictable collaborative arrangements between the African Union, the regional economic communities and the regional mechanisms on a broad area.

“We have chosen terrorism and unconstitutional changes of government as the main issues to discuss because these are the two existential threats that are facing the West African region today.

“We are going to have a clear roadmap or joint action plan between ECOWAS and the African Union on the challenges facing West Africa, with regards to a framework of action, and raise resources together to confront the challenges facing us to meet the exigencies of the time.

“In order to deal effectively with terrorism, we need actually to go kinetic to make sure that terrorists are routed out of our region, and in order for them not to come back, we have to reestablish the social contract between the populations and the government,” he said.

Also speaking, Amb. Musa Nuhu, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS and MSC Chairman, said ECOWAS was leveraging synergy with AU, sister regional economic groups, and global partners, to tackle Africa’s terrorism and unconstitutional change of government challenges.

“We are talking about coordination and synergy in approaching so many emerging issues as the continent is facing unconstitutional changes of government, terrorism, banditry and other menaces.

“ECOWAS as a region needs to work with other regional economic groups, such as the Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS, which is our immediate neighbor and the African Union, which is the umbrella body.

“This is to make sure that there is synergy and collaboration towards combating these challenges,” the ambassador said.

Amb. Nuhu disclosed that it was Nigeria that initiated the draft agenda and modalities for the AU-ECOWAS PSC-MSC maiden consultation meeting, with the view to stemming the tide of violent conflicts in Africa.

Amb. Jainaba Jagne, Gambia’s Permanent Representative to AU and  Chairperson, AU-PSC, also identified terrorism, violent extremism and resurgence of unconstitutional changes of governments as Africa’s main scourges that must be decimated.

“So, the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council is working very closely with the African Union’s Peace and Security Council to address the emerging threats that we have on the continent.

“We have terrorism, we have extreme violence, we have unconstitutional changes of government, so all these points are areas that we need to collaborate, synergise and work to ensure that we combat all of these scourges that we are now experiencing on the continent.

“The Peace and Security Council of the African Union has held sessions,  where we have discussed, not just the Sahel issues but also the Lake Chad Basin, we have held discussions with the Multinational Joint Task Force and other entities.

“These efforts are to ensure that the solutions that we have are solutions that are sustainable, solutions that work out for the long term for all of these countries that are, unfortunately, going through the scourge of terrorism and, unfortunately, in some instances, resulting in unconstitutional changes of government,” she said.

Also speaking, Amb. Bankole Adeoye, African Union’s Commissioner, Political Affairs, Peace and Security, said terrorism financing was a critical terrorism enabler, which the AU was addressing “to rid the continent of terrorism and silence the guns.”

“The root causes of terrorism are well known and the African Union, ECOWAS and other regional bodies are really addressing them. One of the enablers of terrorism is sponsorship and financing, mainly from external sources, and in some cases, local.

“Therefore, you need an effective financial intelligence system that looks at the global picture and working with the UN office on counter-terrorism.

“Working through our own African Union Centre on the Study and Research on terrorism, we are addressing this curse because it is necessary to nip it in the bud, and once you cut off that lifeline, most of the terrorists will not be able to survive,” Adeoye added.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Fortune Abang

The Africa Korea Economic Development Association (AKEDA), Nigeria chapter has called on African leaders to explore the Korea-Africa Summit 2024 as platform  to advance investment and trade relations between the two parties.

The association reiterated the need for the leaders to adopt sustainable economic partnership framework, increase trade relations and investment, inclusive growth, and upward review of official development aid from Korea in Africa.

AKEDA is a public-private partnership organisation that seeks to promote trade relations and investment between Korea and Africa since its establishment in 2006.

Chairman of AKEDA Nigeria Yuccee Uwah in a statement on Tuesday made the call in view of the summit scheduled for Seoul, Korea, from June 4 to June 5.

According to him, the partnership between Africa and Korea will help to gravitate towards mutually beneficial outcomes and outputs that support aspirations of everyone.

Yucee said, “The recognition of economy and investment potential of Africa, which receives deserved attention of the government and people of Korea through this auspicious summit is pivotal in the history of Korea-Africa relations in the last 60 years.

“Korea-Africa relations is taking new paths that gives hope for better future for them, therefore, we appeal to African leaders as representatives of more than 1 billion Africans to draft and agree on new economic partnership.

“Such that positions the continent towards sustainable development, create jobs and opportunities and shared prosperity.

“The expectations are for African leaders to identify key development priorities, articulate them and agree on actionable steps that will stimulate economic development in partnership with Korea.”

The chairman explained that AKEDA had led advocacy that deepened trade relations and investment, as well as improved partnership between Korea, and Africa for nearly two decades.

Yucee further described the summit as milestone that has justified advocacy visits to 37 Africa countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Angola among others, to deepen Korea-Africa partnership.

“In our view, priorities for the summit should focus on trade and investment, technology, research and development, infrastructure, mining and solid minerals, industrialisation, education, and cultural exchange.

“The presence of Korean owned companies and businesses operating in Africa with others eyeing investing in Africa as next manufacturing base and largest single market.

“Leaders attending the summit need to focus on scaling up opportunities, fostering engagements for trade opportunities and foreign direct investment,” Yucee added.

The association boss also said the summit will be the first in the history of Korea-Africa relations to be hosted by the government of Korea, saying it will attract participants from 54 African countries.

This, according to Yucee, will include Heads of State and Governments, Ministers, policy makers, private sector leaders, multilateral institutions, and United Nations system, regional development banks, among others.

“It will exchange ideas on emerging economic trends, technology, innovative solutions, development models towards the transformation of trade and investment relation between Korea and African countries.

“The summit will also advance advocacy for deepening trade and investment between Africa and Korea, as well as redefine engagement between Korea and Africa.

“The summit represents huge step in the history of Korea-Africa relations under the auspices of Africa Union (AU).

“Africa as the second largest continent with 1.3 billion population and combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 3.1 trillion U.S., dollars, a large market with more young population,” Yucee stated. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)