MD - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Ismail Abdulaziz
Dec, Mon, 2024

Metro

NAN MD reels out achievements, pledges improvement in 2025

274 total views today

By Ahmed Musa/Collins Yakubu-Hammer

Malam Ali M. Ali, Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has reeled out his achievements in office during his 12-month-old leadership and promising to do more in 2025.

Ali reeled out the achievements during an end of year interactive session with members of staff of the Agency across the country on Monday in Abuja.

He explained that 2024 was challenging, adding that it is good to be thankful to the Almighty for all that the agency was able to achieve.

“We had an International lecture that boosted our image, brand and capacity. This has attracted other organisations willing to sign Memorandum of Understanding to partner with us.

“We also had management retreat followed by that of the editorial. These retreats reshape the operations as participants came back better enriched with the belief that we can move mountains.

“This year, we have improved on our infrastructure and facilities. Lagos has been without power for the past two years. We have connected them to the national grid and added solar energy.

“In Abuja, most offices have solar power supply and before next week, all the offices will enjoy solar in Abuja,” Ali said.

He further explained that there would be training for members of staff in 2025 to further boast productivity, adding that an untrained staff can wreck a good system.

“On the social calendar, we were able to engage ourselves in health walk and regular weekly exercise to keep fit. We may introduce interdepartmental sports competition to ease the tension of the work.

“We are going to fix our states and zonal offices to portray our image as the number one News Agency in Africa. We have traveled to some states and saw the state of our offices. We will fix them.

“All Zonal Offices deserves multimedia unit. It is just a matter of time and we will get there, this is because the future of news is multimedia and we will not be left behind.

“I encourage all of you both in Lagos, Abuja and other states to collaborate,”

He appreciated the management and members of staff for their support so far, adding that more would be achieved with such environment of understanding.

Ali admonished senior officers in the agency to mentor the younger ones that would take over in years to come.

He stressed that the Ombudsman is a very important component in the agency.

Members of staff commended the Managing Director for the new lease of life in staff welfare as well as the December welfare package. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Ismail Abdulaziz
Dec, Fri, 2024

General News

NAN MD lauds Minister’s community project

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By Rita Iliya
The Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, has commended the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, over the electrification project in Malagi village.

He gave the commendation during the inauguration of the projects in Malagi, the minister’s home town, in Gbako Local Government of Niger state.

He described the project, which include the construction of a mosque, an Islamiyya school, a water project, and the renovation of a primary school as remarkable.

He said the minister’s gesture was a perfect example of giving back to society, particularly in his ancestral community.

He noted that the project would outlive the minister and earn him rewards, as it promotes learning and worship.

“The Islamiyya school, in particular, is seen as a wise choice, given the community’s strong religious inclination and the importance of knowledge in Islam,” he said.

Ali expressed hope that the minister’s example would inspire others in public office to give back to their communities. (NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Ismail Abdulaziz
Dec, Tue, 2024

General News

Why media must embrace innovation- NAN MD

223 total views today

By Mufutau Ojo

The Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, has called on media owners to embrace innovation in their editorial operations.

Ali made the call on Tuesday in a goodwill message at a retreat organised by the management of Voice of Nigeria (VON) in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the retreat had as theme: ” Voice of Nigeria in the 21st Century : Restrategising for Global Impact.”

According to Ali, the theme of the retreat is apt given the myriads of challenges facing the Nigerian media.

He identified the challenges to include limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, widespread disinformation as well as limited access to digital technologies and internet connectivity.

“These are benumbing challenges, but certainly not unsurmountable if we deploy our creative ingenuity and will power, ” he added.

He recalled the two retreats organised early into the life of his administration, saying they defined the direction of management’s programmes.

“One telling lesson from both retreats we had was the inevitability of innovation in an increasingly shrinking media space marked by convergence and Artificial Intelligence.

“Indeed, we dare say that the future is already here! We must hearken to the clarion call: “Innovate or die!,” he said.

He urged participants at the retreat to ruminate on strategies that will put VON in sturdy position for global impact.

Ali also called on participants to “think outside of the box, innovate without restraint and collaborate seamlessly to ensure a positive outcome.”

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Ismail Abdulaziz
Dec, Thu, 2024

Health

NAN MD lauds NAFDAC for reducing counterfeit goods

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By Aderogba George

The Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali M. Ali, has lauded National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), for efforts toward reducing counterfeit goods in Nigeria.

He gave the commendation when Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of the food and drug regulating agency, paid him a visit in Abuja on Tuesday.

Ali also commended Adeyeye’s giant strides toward tackling substandard products in the country, saying that the impact is being felt all over the country.

“We know what you are doing, especially in trying to rid our warehouses, stores and others of substandard goods.

“We know there are millions of dollars involved in this kind of business; that you are making efforts to fight counterfeit goods is good.

“This is more similar to the same thing we are fighting at the agency — fake news, when you are dealing with fake drugs and you see how it is being manufactured in the length and breadth of this country, it is mind-boggling.

“This is why you deserve all the support the media can give you, as well as the general support Nigerians can give you, what you are doing in NAFDAC is selfless service, it is a selfless task.

“You have to do it for the country, as an academician, you have set the bar, I think other regulators should emulate what you are doing.”

The managing director said that if NAFDAC staff risk their lives in safeguarding public health, it is a duty on other regulatory agencies to also rise up to their task.

He said NAN as a major content provider in terms of news would continue to project the image of NAFDAC provided it is still carrying out its responsibilities as enshrined in the law.

He said that NAN as a news agency could not afford to mislead the public with information, adding that the agency has zero tolerance for fake news and misinformation.

Earlier, the NAFDAC boss told NAN MD that sharp practices are widespread and majority of people would always want to beat the system.

She said that the country witnessed six decades of decadence up until in 2019 when NAFDAC realised that and decided to change the narrative to promote local manufacturing of goods.

She added that people would always want to beat the system to their own favour and to the detriment of others’ health.

“We deal with goods, drugs, chemicals, vaccines and others and almost everything that make life better on a daily basis and this is why we have to be on alert, it is a tough business, but we have to do the job.

“Just two or three months ago, our staff went on a routine patrol in Onisha and they were attacked, this is the type of hazards we face everyday as an agency.

“Our work is for the benefit of all Nigerians in terms of what we eat and drink, because you may never know when you need medicine, you must be sure that the water doesn’t put your stomach in trouble,” she stressed.

She said that NAFDAC would not keep mute to this system but will keep on working a step ahead of counterfeiters who are determined to promote illegalities to the detriment of the health of many Nigerians.(NAN) (www.nannew.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu