The Creative Industry Group (CIG) has called on Nigerians to come together to tackle the issues of drug abuse among youths in the country.
Felix Duke, President, CIG, made the call during a Cultural Day event organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Chapel, on Tuesday in Lagos.
He said, “Drug abuse is one of the issues to be taken seriously in every sector before it swallows up our young people.
“ We no longer understand what is going on. Even in the entertainment industry, drug abuse is a plague. We, most especially the media, must join hands to fight it.”
According to the CIG President, drug abuse has become so prevalent in our society, with addicts in all parts of Nigeria.
“We don’t know what has come over our youths, a lot them have gone mad because of drugs and most parents have failed in their responsibilities.
“Many don’t know what happens to their children, drug abuse is a serious matter that we must team up to tackle, as it’s now a matter that requires urgency for us as parents.
“We must put our feet down concerning our children so that they will not cause heartaches tomorrow,” Duke said.
The CIG President also noted that the group had been doing a lot to get the youth off the streets and engage them in the creative industry.
“ The creative industry is empowering the youth in various sectors including music, comedy, Nollywood and beauty industry to remove them from the streets.
“ Without these efforts and others, the security situation in some states would have been worsened,” he said.
Duke urged all well-meaning Nigerians to ensure that the youth were not abandoned but encouraged in the drive to secure their future.
“It concerns everyone of us; we all must join our hands together to remove our youth from the streets.
“So many innocent people also suffer much from these drug addicts among our youths because of peer group influence,” he said.
According to Duke, parents should closely watch their children and know their friends and the company they keep.
The Cultural Day celebration held in NAN Multimedia Centre was part of activities lined up to mark the week-long 2023 NUJ, NAN Chapel Press Week.
Some of the highlights of the event aimed at promoting the Nigerian culture and their unifying effect included displays that depict various cultures, food, fruits, drinks, dances and songs.
Some Nigerian traditional dishes displayed during the NUJ NAN Chapel, Lagos,Press Week 2023
A troupe of dancers from the National Arts Theatre group thrilled the audience at various intervals.
Faces of some staff adorned in traditional attires during the NUJ NAN Chapel, Lagos,Press Week 2023
Faces of some staff adorned in traditional attires during the NUJ NAN Chapel, Lagos,Press Week 2023
Also, Koffi Tha-Guru, a comedian, said that drug business thrived in the country because Nigerians celebrated wealthy people without investigating the source of their wealth.
According to him, the Nigerian state must go after people dealing in illegal drugs to save the nation of the threatening risk and danger.
He noted that thriving illicit drug business had become so bad that many youth today describe education as scam.
“ The mentality of the young generation of Nigerians need to be rechecked and recalibrated.
“What is going on shows us that we are sitting on kegs of powder, as journalists and media practitioners, let us use our pen to constantly speak on these ills before it consume our future generations,” he said.
The comedian said that the negative impact of social media on drug abuse by the youth was part of the problem, adding that Nigerians, especially the youth, were some of the most toxic users of social media.
He explained that the way young people insult and abuse others and elders had shown the erosion of cultural values.
According to him, the menace has spread to girls, adding that drug addicts among girls are worse than those among the the boys.
“ These are our future mothers; we should pay attention; do something now before drugs consume all of us because these youths of today are our future talents and hope.
“ We should start from the children in nursery school, we need to change our education curriculum and we need to start to honour and respect individual not what we have,” he said.
The comedian said that people must discourage the mentality of placing value on money to get honour and respect.
Faces of some staff adorned in traditional attires during the NUJ NAN Chapel, Lagos, Press Week 2023
Similarly, the Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee of the event, Mrs Vivian Ihechu, said the event was aimed at fostering unity, peaceful co-existence and national development.
“As a news agency and journalists, we are watchdogs of the society and we felt it’s good to use our strength and reach to spread the message of unity.
“When we are united, we will have one voice to surmount our challenges, work toward a common vision and develop the nation,” she said.
Ihechu also urged Nigerians, particularly the youth to appreciate and value their cultural heritage.
Similarly, the Acting Managing Director of NAN, Mr Abdulhadi Khaliel, said the event is important because it showcases the cultural values across the various ethnic groups.
Khaliel, who was represented by Mr Kayode Olaitan, Head of Lagos Operations, NAN, said it was essential to share the values in homes.
“Let’s imbibe cultural values, teach our youths how to respect people so we can build a better nation tomorrow,” said Khaliel. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
By Dianabasi Effiong, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
The presentation of the book, `Notes Along The Way’, written by Prof. Victor Adefela, was a net worth event from the perspective of some retired and serving staff of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The conviviality that prevailed on June 30 among management, former and present staff at the NAN Media Centre, Iganmu, Lagos State, was awesome.
Mr Buki Ponle, the Managing Director, NAN, in his preamble said the book presentation was like “giving honour to whom honour is due’’.
Ponle, who led the staff to sing: `Count your blessings’, described Adefela as father-mentor, before ushering him and his wife, Oluyemisi, to the high table.
After the rendition of the Nigeria’s national anthem, Ponle said the author opted for a simple presentation and donation of 50 copies of the book to fellow retirees.
“He called to express his desire to present `Notes Along The Way’ to retirees and former pioneer staff of NAN.
“I suggested that we should do a formal launching; give the book the visibility required. But he said: `No’.
“He is publicity shy, insisted that it is for NAN staff only; that he would simply present the book. I realised that since he had made up his mind, I should not argue with him!
“Adefela joined NAN before anybody joined, having been appointed as the pioneer Editor-in-Chief in 1977.
“I am one of the pioneers, started here in 1978. Onuora Nzekwu was also appointed the pioneer General Manager. The office was at the National Arts Theatre.
“He celebrated his 85th birthday on June 19. He is humble; a disciplinarian. These are virtues that kept him,’’ Ponle said.
Ponle also recalled an incident during a four-day Editorial Conference in the 80s in Port Harcourt: “We saw him sitting alone, eating watermelon opposite a hall where there was a party.
“Those of us who took stout and other brands of beer, said: `Can you imagine Oga eating watermelon alone instead of joining us?’.
“But we know better now. What you give yourself when you are young and growing up is what you get at old age. He is still strong,’’ Ponle said.
He further recalled `an exigency then’ when he advised Adefela to drive against the traffic, `He refused’.
“When you are with Adefela don’t suggest anything bad because you are on your own. I am happy that I met him, happy that our paths crossed several times.
“We used to call him `NAN Headmaster’. We had spies then to monitor for us when Adefela will come, for us to tidy up as the case may be.
He also lauded Adefela “for imparting some of these virtues and for making me what I am today and the sacrifice to make us what we are today’’.
“He made us his sons and daughters. I want to emulate him, write books. We are here for his book presentation, not a launching,’’ Ponle said.
The Book Reviewer, Mr Segun Adeyemi, was represented by a retired staff, Dr Kingsley Kubeyinje, who joined NAN in 1984.
Adeyemi, formerly New York Correspondent, NAN, is the immediate past Special Assistant to the former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
Before reading Adeyemi’s message, Kubeyinje reiterated: “Adefela , who was in NAN from 1977 to 1985, was the first journalist to be employed in NAN.
“There is no way you write the history of NAN without devoting a chapter on him. NAN is: `N’-Nzekwu, `A’-Adefela and `N’- others!
“He interviewed, employed me; used to ride the car with registration number: FGN-02. He was number two after Onuora Nzekwu, the then General Manager.
“He never smiled. Hard to know what is in his mind, but he seem to know everything, everybody.’’
Adeyemi, said that though he initially misunderstood Adefela during his working days in NAN, Adefela later became Adeyemi’s hero.
He said the book captured the reality of the life of the reputable journalist, academician who had travelled 40 countries.
He said 22 of the book’s pages were dedicated to his times in NAN, adding that it also captured escapades of his early adventurous childhood which were daring, with many turns and twists.
“Notes along the way, the imaginatively-titled memoir of now Prof. Victor Olufemi Adefela, captures the life story of a boy who was born in Lagos, grew up partly in Igbara-Oke and Ile-Ife, went to school in both, as well as in Ibadan and the United States.
“He then became a world citizen, a renowned Journalist, a global Consultant and a University Teacher who has visited 40 countries in three continents!
“What many readers, especially from the NAN family, will look forward to in the memoir is his notes on the time he spent in the agency.
“Especially because he was the very first journalist to be employed in NAN, and the agency’s pioneer Editor-in-Chief, who largely charted its editorial pathway.
“Only 22 of the 274 pages in the book were dedicated to the eight years he spent in NAN, but so much was packed into those pages that I do not think he left much untouched.
“Find out why the story of NAN will be incomplete without this man,” he said.
From left: Representative of the book Reviewer, Dr Kingsley Kubeyinje; Mr Tony Nezianya; Managing Director, NAN, Mr Buki Ponle; the Author, Prof. Victor Adefela, and his wife, Oluyemisi; Mr Isaac Ighure; and Ag Head of Lagos Office, Mr Kayode Olaitan, at Adefela’s book presentation at NAN, Lagos. Picture Credit: Atolagbe Babatunde/NAN.
Also, a former Editor-in-Chief, NAN, Mr Isaac Ighure, and others respectively reminisced about exciting moments in NAN where Adefela laid the right foundation.
“Adefela was `the Editor-in-Chief of the Editor-in-Chief’. We met NAN that was sweet, well-organised with incentives, especially the Editorial Department.
“Hardworking people had double promotion in a year. The NAN we have now is different from the NAN we had then. We were breaking the news and the others were following us,’’ Ighure said.
He recommended the book “for those seeking growth…and to those seeking better understanding outside the agency’’.
Mr Tony Nezianya, Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Olympic Committee;a former Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Head of Sports Desk in NAN said: “If your copies lacked clarity or coherence, Adefela will tell you, `my friend, read what you are writing’ ”.
Adefela, the author, recalled the circumstances that made him to write the book, saying that, while on vacation in the U.S., he remained indoors for about six months during COVID-19 lockdown.
He decided to write the book to kill boredom!
He expressed his passion for the journalism profession, adding that his experience had been wonderful, having traversed more than 40 countries across the globe.
He said that life is interesting and meaningful when people do what they actually like, as against professions imposed by parents for various reasons.
“I am that I am a journalist. It has been a wonderful experience being a journalist. I have visited more than 40 countries.
“I have interviewed Presidents and Prime Ministers, criminals, convicts and others. I pray and hope that many of you here have that kind of experience.
“Please, give your children the necessary support to be what they want to be; that is the only way they can fulfill their dreams
“Let people be what they want to be, that is the only way they can find fulfilment,’’ Adefela said.
According to the professor, although change is constant – in people, institutions and everything – passion endures.
“In whatever you do, it is self fulfilment that matters. There is progress today in NAN.
“The first building we put up here sank because of the marshy nature of this place. Now we have an edifice here.
“Things change; human beings, institutions change. There is no way that NAN then will be NAN today. The feeling now is that of great experience.
“Do your best to serve people. You are employed to serve. I hope that you find my book interesting and learn a few lessons from it.
He said although he started his career in the Ministry of Information in 1961, working in NAN (1977 to 1985) was the highpoint and most fulfilling of his career life.
He said he spent one tenth of his life in NAN, devoted one tenth of the more than 200-page book to NAN which had impacted his life and journey in life positively.
Adefela said the book remained a collective story of his life journey and not just about NAN.
“This is not the story of NAN, this is the story of Victor Adefela,’’.
He said that his colleagues at the onset of NAN were excited working hard to achieve something new and useful for the growth of the nation.
He expressed the hope that the present crop of NAN staff would uphold the high standard they met.
“In all my working years, I think the years in NAN were definitely the most productive and the most satisfying.
“NAN made such an impact on me although others say I made an impact on NAN,” he said.
“We had a wonderful experience then because none of us did anything wonderfully new. We were all working hard to make an impact on the development of our country,’’ he said.
Adefela also served as Director of News, Pan African News Agency (PANA) in Dakar, Senegal, on leave-of-absence from NAN, from late 1980s to early 1990s.
He had at various times, between 1982 and 2008, conducted media capacity-building workshops in 16 African countries as a Consultant to World Health Organisation and UNESCO.
Adefela had, during an occasion to mark his 80th birthday at NAN, Abuja, unveiled one of his books, `Mind on The Wing’.
The 92-page collection of poems reflected his thoughts on wide-ranging issues facing mankind, including change.
He brought intellectualism to NAN editorial operation which also impacted on staff.
Staff under him, who further acquired more academic laurels, included a the former deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Adigun Agbaje, Prof. Innocent Okoye of Kwara State University and late Prof. Lai Oso of Lagos State University.
Oso (67), died in a car accident on June 24 while returning from a conference at the Delta State University, Abraka.
Although this is `Not the story of NAN’ but `the story of Victor Adefela’, it also demonstrates the power of the mind and human beings over obstacles – natural or man-made.
It is man versus limitations. It is about growth, change and perfection. (NANFeatures)
**If used, credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria**
The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) on Thursday solicited an enduring partnership with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to promote the growth of the tourism sector in Nigeria.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy visit to the editorial management of NAN in Abuja, the Director-General of the NTDC, Mr Folorunsho Coker, said that he needed to collaborate with NAN to drive the vision of the NTDC as laid out by the Federal Government.
He said that the media had a critical role in the quest to engender development, saying that partnership with NAN was necessary for the NTDC to sale its programmes to the public.
According to him, time has come for media practitioners to be part of the vision to showcase the tourism sector, noting that tourism is key in sustaining a positive image for Nigeria.
“Tourism without the media is like tea without sugar. We need to support each other because the coronavirus pandemic has brought the world to embrace a new normal.
“There is need to collaborate to foster change in a dynamic world and stretch our hands of friendship and partnership in harnessing the huge potential in the tourism industry.
“Domestic tourism offers a rare opportunity for reflection and recalibration to grow again because it is uniquely equipped to be part of the national recovery effort.
Coker noted that domestic tourism requires fewer restrictions and less education, generates employment and revenue and reduces rural-urban migration and poverty.
“At the NTDC, we focus on domestic tourism as our recovery solution to creating a healing for the people.
“In line with the above, we conceived the `Tour Nigeria’ project, to drive domestic consumption of tourism products in Nigeria, commercialise tourism and generate employment.’’
The NTDC chief stressed that domestic tourism must be encouraged to enhance the creative sector, galvanise economic growth across other sectors, including agriculture and manufacturing.
Coker also appealed to NAN management for support in showcasing some initiatives of the NTDC, including, its Google Arts and Culture, aimed at digitizing, preserving and sharing Nigeria’s rich culture within and across the world.
Other initiatives of the NTDC are the Wakanow initiative, designed to facilitate easy travel across the country and the Jabi Boat Club in Abuja, aimed at creating new tourism products such as water sports and boat cruise for recreation and entertainment.
Coker also pleaded with other stakeholders in the tourism sector to collaborate, rather than competing and creating internal capacity, while contending with the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Managing Director of NAN, Mr Buki Ponle, said that his mandate as chief executive officer was to change the narrative of news reporting in Nigeria and Africa in general.
“We have come to a stage where we have to think outside the box. We have to collaborate with people of like minds to make Nigeria great.’’
Ponle pleaded the NTDC to support NAN in its renewed determination to develop, nurture, implement and succeed in developmental journalism as needed currently in Nigeria.
“We focus on positive reports, aimed at fostering developmental journalism,” he said.
