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Man United officially announce Ruben Amorim as new manager

Bankole ABE
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Man United officially announce Ruben Amorim as new manager

MANCHESTER United have officially announced Ruben Amorim as their new manager.

The club disclosed this in a statement on its official X handle on Friday, November 1.

Manchester United, also known as the ‘Red Devils’, confirmed that Amorim will resume official at the club on Monday, November 11.

Amorim, who is currently the manager of Sporting Lisbon Club of Portugal, will remain with the club till November 10.

The first game of Amorim in the  Premier League will be against newcomer Ipswich Town.

The 39-year-old agreed to a contract until June 2027, with the option of a further year.

United reportedly paid Sporting an extra €1m (£840,000) in addition to his €10m (£8.4m) exit clause for an early release from his 30-day notice period.

He will replace Erik ten Hag, who was sacked on Monday, October 28, while Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue in an interim role until Amorim joins.

United will play their next PL game against Chelsea, who are 5th on the table on Sunday, November 3.

Since former coach Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, United now has their sixth permanent manager.

The ICIR reported that Manchester United sacked Ten Hag as its manager on Monday, October 28.

Ten Hag was sacked after spending two-and-half years at the club.

According to a statement released by the club, Ruud van Nistelrooy will take over as the team’s interim manager.

The 54-year-old Ten Hag faced numerous challenges leading the club.

He escaped a summer sack by the club’s management after defeating rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final in May 2024.

United finished the previous season in eighth place, which was their lowest-ever Premier League finish, and they were eliminated from the Champions League just before Christmas.

Ten Hag’s final game was Sunday’s 2-1 defeat by West Ham.

United are also 21st of 36 teams in the Europa League table, having drawn their three opening fixtures.

The club said Nistelrooy, who joined the club as Ten Hag’s assistant last summer, would be in charge while they search for a permanent head coach.

The club’s board notified Ten Hag of the decision Monday morning after the team’s loss to West Ham at the London Stadium.

Ten Hag, a former Ajax manager, took over in the summer of 2022 and guided the team to third place in the Premier League during his debut season.

He led United to their first trophy in six seasons with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in the 2023 Carabao Cup final.

In December 2023, British businessman Jim Ratcliffe purchased a 27.7 per cent share in the club.

 

 

 

Court orders final forfeiture of Emefiele’s $2.04m, properties,shares

Harrison EDEH
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Court orders final forfeiture of Emefiele’s $2.04m, properties,shares

THE Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday, November 1, ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of $2.045m, seven landed properties, and share certificates linked to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

The judge, Deinde Dipeolu ordered the permanent forfeiture of the monies and the two share certificates of Queensdorf Global Fund Limited Trust, after holding that the former CBN governor or any other interested party did not contest the same after the initial interim forfeiture.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the seven landed properties on the ground that the former CBN Governor, Emefiele, was not able to connect his lawful earnings from Zenith Bank and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the acquisition of the properties.

The court held that the former CBN Governor failed to provide documents or links to show that he owned the properties.

Emefiele had denied any connection between him and the companies in whose names the properties were purchased and the companies had also failed to appear before the court to claim the properties.

The EFCC had listed the companies as; Amrash Ventures Limited, Modern Hotels Limited, Finebury Properties Limited, Fidelity Express Services Limited, H & Y Business Global Limited, and SDEM Erectors Nigeria Limited.

Justice Dipeolu held, “The conclusion that can be deduced is that there must be something dark about the acquisition of the properties which Emefiele and the companies do not want to come to light.”

The judge further held “that the interested party has failed to demonstrate any lawful interest in the properties and that they were acquired from his legitimate earnings”.

“I therefore order the final forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria of all those properties…which are reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.”

The properties are two fully detached duplexes of identical structures, lying being and situated at No. 17b Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; an undeveloped land, measuring 1919.592 sqm with Survey Plan No. DS/LS/340 at Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (Formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos; a bungalow at No. 65a Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, (Formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos, and a four-bedroom duplex at 12a Probyn Road, Ikoyi.

Others are an industrial complex under construction on 22 plots of land in Agbor, Delta State; 8 units of an undetached apartment on a plot measuring 2457.60sqm at No. 8a Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi, and a full duplex together with all its appurtenances on a plot of land measuring 2217.87sqm at 2a Bank Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

On August 15, 2024, the court authorised the EFCC to temporarily take custody of the cash sum of $2.045million, seven choices landed properties, and shares linked to Emefiele after hearing an Exparte application filed by lead counsel to the Commission, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).

The court’s ruling followed the EFCC’s assertion that the money and other items sought to be forfeited were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

However, counsel to Emefiele, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olalekan Ojo had urged the court to stay proceedings and not grant the final forfeiture of the properties.

The ICIR earlier reported in May that the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered an interim forfeiture of the sums of $4,719,054, N830,875,611, and several properties linked to the embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

#EndBadGovernance protest: Court grants N10m bail each to minors

Bankole ABE
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#EndBadGovernance protest: Court grants N10m bail each to minors

THE Federal High Court (FHC) sitting in Abuja has granted bail in the sum of N10 million each to minor #EndBadGovernance protesters who were arraigned for participating in the August 2024 protest.

The court on Friday, November 1, granted those under the age of 15 bail, they are however required to provide one surety, who needs to be a civil servant.

In the meantime, 87 other adults are presently being charged with the same offences.

They are being slammed with a 10-count charge bordering on alleged treason, as well as conspiracy to commit a felony with intent to destabilize Nigeria, an offence contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act.

They were arrested and detained in August during the nationwide protest in the country which was sparked by widespread economic hardship.

They were arrested in Abuja, Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina and Kano.

Minor faints in court

However, confusion ensued in the court earlier when a minor, who is among 76 persons set to be arraigned by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), collapsed in the court.

The defendant, a minor who is barely 15 years old, slumped while the judge, Egwuatu, was reading the charges.

The judge had to quickly stop the proceedings and go back to his chambers because of the event.

The boy was taken to the court’s clinic with the assistance of lawyers present in the courtroom.

A few others, also slumped.

A lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, had earlier revealed that the minors had spent over 80 days in police detention.

According to the charge, which was signed by a group of police lawyers headed by Simon Lough, the defendants and other people who are still at large allegedly conspired to commit a felony in Abuja and Kano between July 31 and August 4 while acting in concert and to destabilise Nigeria.

#EndBadGovernance protest: 723 arrested in Abuja, 830 charged in Kano – Hope Behind Bars

The ICIR reported on October 4 that two months after the #EndBadGovernance Protest that rocked Nigeria in August 2024, about 723 protesters were arrested in Abuja, and those charged to court in Kano are still struggling to meet their bail conditions.

The ICIR gathered from Hope Behind Bars (HBB) Africa, a non-governmental organisation that about 723 protesters arrested in Abuja and 830 charged to court in Kano form the larger bulk of protesters who are still detained.

As of October 1, most of the detained protesters from the #EndBadGovernance protest in Nigeria—some of them charged with treason, which carries a possible death penalty—are either awaiting prosecution or struggling to meet up with their bail conditions.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) puts the number of those arrested across the country in relation to the protest at 1,200, while some media reports put the number at over 2400. 

The genesis of the #EndBadGovernance Protest

In August, many Nigerians trooped to the streets between August 1 and 10, 2024, to protest poor governance and economic hardships, which were said to have been caused or increased by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms.

The protests were marred with violence, largely caused by the security operatives in places like Lagos and Abuja, where protesters were subjected to tear gas and harassment.

The tweets on the protest carry different hashtags, ranging from #RevolutionNow, #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, #TakeItBack, #DaysofRage, and #TinubuMustGo.

VeryDarkMan arraigned for using police uniform gets N2m bail

Bankole ABE
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VeryDarkMan arraigned for using police uniform gets N2m bail

Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan has been granted bail in the sum of N2 million over the allegation that he wore a police uniform without permission and falsely presented himself as an officer of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

He was arraigned on Friday, November 1 by the NPF before an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Wuse, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the charge marked: CR/510/2024.

The court then gave him N2 million in bail, with the two sureties in the like sum.

The court ruled that the sureties had to register their passports with the FCT, Abuja in addition to being residents of the FCT.

⁠According to the court, the sureties must also provide a means of identification and depose to an affidavit to provide the defendant for his trial whenever required.

The court mandated the police investigating the case to confirm the sureties’ addresses, and they were also instructed to present proof that their utility bills had been paid.

Additionally, the defendant was instructed to sign an affidavit stating that he would always be available for the trial.

Recall, that VeryDarkMan was spotted wearing a uniform resembling that of the NPF in a video that went viral on social media.

He humorously asked his admirers and followers to always refer to him with his new rank rather than calling him an activist, describing himself as an officer of an online division.

However, the defendant eventually apologised publicly for his actions after an earlier encounter with the police that involved a summon.

While warning other video creators to always get the required clearance from law enforcement authorities before using their uniforms for creative purposes, he clarified that he was unaware that wearing such a uniform without authority was illegal.

Verydarkman is not new to controversy as it’d be recalled, on October 15, 2024, many Nigerian media platforms reported that the Lagos State High Court imposed a fine of N500 million on him over defamatory posts and videos about prominent lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, Folarin Falana, also known as Falz.

The claim, earlier reported but now deleted or removed by many media platforms, still exists on other platforms such as News Central and various social media posts as seen here and here.

VeryDarkMan had posted on his Instagram page a leaked audio clip allegedly of Bobrisky, in which the popular cross-dresser allegedly implicated Falz and his father.

Falana, during his appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today, denied ever contacting or knowing Bobrisky. He also refuted the N10 million deal allegation, stating that he had secured pardons for numerous convicts without any charges.

He further indicated that he would not pursue criminal charges against VeryDarkMan based on his principle that free speech should never be criminalised but initiated civil proceedings to restore his and his son’s integrity and reputation. He noted that he had requested an apology and retraction from VeryDarkMan, which the influencer failed to provide.

The senior advocate then proceeded to sue VeryDarkMan via an ex-parte originating application on October 9, 2024.

In the ex parte application, heard by a judge on October 10, 2024, Falana sought various preemptive orders against VeryDarkMan ahead of the hearing of the substantive suit. He also sought an order to serve VeryDarkMan through substituted means by serving the suit on his lawyer.

The judge, M. O. Dawodu delivered the ruling in suit no: ID/8584/GCM/2024 on October 14, 2024. According to him, VeryDarkMan’s publications on his social media accounts on September 24, 2024, linking Bobrisky to Falz and his father were defamatory and injurious to their public image.

However, a review of the certified copy of the court ruling did not reveal anywhere that the court ordered the social media influencer to pay a sum of N500 million as a fine.

Bobrisky cries out over alleged pull out from Amsterdam-bound flight by EFCC

Mustapha USMAN
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Bobrisky cries out over alleged pull out from Amsterdam-bound flight by EFCC

NIGERIAN crossdresser, Okuneye Idris, also known as Bobrisky, has raised an alarm, alleging that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) forced him off a KLM Airline flight bound for Amsterdam.

He was ejected at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and detained by immigration officers on the night of Thursday, October 31, while attempting to leave the country for London, the United Kingdom.

This incident came over a week after he was intercepted at the Sème border while allegedly attempting to flee the country on 22 October.

In a series of posts on his Instagram page, Bobrisky alleged that EFCC was behind his arrest and detention, adding that he sustained a serious injury during the process.

He wrote, “Nigerians help me, EFCC just arrested me.”

He added in another post, “I’m badly injured.”

His arrest came shortly after a picture of him and a social commentator Isaac Fayose, on Thursday, surfaced online.

Fayose had shared the picture of himself with Bobrisky as they boarded the same flight to London on his Instagram handle.

 “Look who’s on the same flight with me to London, @Bobrisky222,” Fayose wrote.

Shortly after, in a viral video seen by The ICIR, Bobrisky was later removed from the flight by security operatives.

Meanwhile, the EFCC has yet to officially comment on this development, even as The ICIR reached out to the commission’s head of media and publicity, Dele Oyewale. 

But a report from Punch quoted Oyewale to have confirmed Bobrisky’s arrest. “Bobrisky is on his way to Abuja as we speak,” Oyewale was quoted saying.

Earlier on Thursday, the director of public affairs, EFCC Wilson Uwajaren, according to Channels Television, disclosed the cross-dresser could face a fresh charge from the commission if the allegations against the EFCC prove to be false.

Recall, that allegations surfaced online from social media influencer Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, claiming that while serving his sentence for abusing the naira, Bobrisky bribed prison officials and others to allow him to remain outside the prison.

He was said to have bribed senior prison officers to give him undeserved privileges as a convict. 

The allegations prompted the minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to set up an investigative panel chaired by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Magdalena Ajani.

The panel stated that Bobrisky had access to special privileges during his incarceration, including a private cell, frequent visits, and access to electronic devices.

8 rescued alive from Ibadan building collapse – NEMA

Bankole ABE
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8 rescued alive from Ibadan building collapse – NEMA

THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has disclosed that eight persons were rescued from the building that collapsed in Ibadan,  Oyo State, on Thursday, October 31.

NEMA said the rescue operation was in collaboration with other stakeholders.

According to the agency, casualties were recorded in the Jegede area of the state capital.

The southwest zonal coordinator of NEMA, Kadiri Olanrewaju, disclosed this to The ICIR in a telephone conversation on Friday, November 1.

He said the agency received a distress alert about the incident on Thursday and moved in swiftly. He also confirmed that ten people died in the incident.

“These victims were carried to the Mercyland clinic and maternity centre for immediate medical care. Unfortunately, ten persons lost their lives in the incident,” Olanrewaju said.

He added that three of the victims who were hospitalised will be discharged from the hospital on Friday.

The ICIR reported that at least 10 people were killed in the building that collapsed in Ibadan on Thursday morning.

The Oyo State Fire Services Agency confirmed the tragedy and said seven people were rescued alive from the incident that occurred at 2:am. A statement issued by the Fire Service said rescue efforts were ongoing.

It remained unclear when filing this report if more people were still trapped in the rubbles.

The commissioner for lands, housing, and urban development in Oyo State, Williams Akin-Funmilayo who reacted to the building collapse said the state government ‘would conduct integrity text on the neighbouring buildings to ascertain the main cause of the collapse.

“Many of the buildings around are distressed and don’t have building approvals. It is for us to be proactive as we are set to conduct integrity tests on the buildings around and within the suburb of the state,” he said.

The ICIR reports that building collapses have been recurring across Nigeria, especially in the country’s capital, Abuja (in the north-central) and the southern part of the country.

On Sunday, October 26, this organisation reported how many people were trapped in a building that collapsed in the Sabon-Lugbe area of the nation’s capital.

The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had ordered the demolition of some illegal structures in the area.

It would be noted that the collapsed building was among those earlier touched by bulldozers, and it caved in when scavengers attempted to steal iron from one of its pillars.

NAFDAC issues alert on recall of Nivea roll-on deodorant over harmful chemical

Mustapha USMAN
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NAFDAC issues alert on recall of Nivea roll-on deodorant over harmful chemical

THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public alert on the recall of Nivea BLACK & WHITE Invisible Roll-on deodorant, with batch number 93529610. 

The recalled product, Nivea BLACK & WHITE Invisible Roll-On, 50ml, bar code 42299882, was flagged by the European Union’s Rapid Alert System for Dangerous Non-Food Products (RAPEX) due to concerns over hazardous chemicals that may endanger consumers.

In a statement released on Thursday, October 31, NAFDAC disclosed that the deodorant contains 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl) propionaldehyde (BMHCA), a chemical prohibited in cosmetics for its potential to harm reproductive health, impair fetal development, and cause skin irritation and burns.

NAFDAC further urged distributors, retailers, and consumers to discontinue the sale and use of the product and submit any stock in their possession to the nearest NAFDAC office. 

The agency also cautioned against importing any soap products to Nigeria, noting that importation of soaps is prohibited in the country.

“Importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers are advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale, and use of the above-mentioned Nivea Roll-on with the affected batch. 

“Members of the public in possession of the affected batch of product should discontinue the sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office,” the statement added.

NAFDAC, therefore called on healthcare professionals and the public to remain vigilant, asking them to report any adverse reactions linked to unregulated products through its pharmacovigilance platform or the Med-safety app available for download.

This was coming barely two months after the regulatory body also alerted the immediate recalling of Dove Beauty Cream Bar Soap (100g)  by European Union regulatory bodies following the discovery of a harmful chemical content in the product. 

The soap, produced in Germany and sold under batch number 81832M 08 and bar code 8000700000005 was found to contain Butylphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA), a substance banned in cosmetics due to its potential health risks.

NAFDAC in a statement released September 9, said they had issued a public alert on August 30, 2024, warning that BMHCA, which is prohibited under the Cosmetic Products Regulation, poses serious risks, including reproductive harm and skin sensitisation. 

It noted that the authorities in the European Union have already taken action to ban the product.

NEC tells Tinubu to withdraw tax reform bills from National Assembly

Mustapha USMAN
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NEC tells Tinubu to withdraw tax reform bills from National Assembly

THE National Economic Council (NEC) has advised President Bola Tinubu to withdraw the proposed tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly.

The NEC cited the need for more consultations and consensus-building among Nigerians before the bills are transmitted to the National Assembly.

According to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who briefed newsmen after the meeting, on Thursday, October 31, the NEC acknowledged Nigeria’s underperformance in major revenue sources, including the tax-to-GDP ratio and other critical indicators.

The new tax framework is part of the government’s plan to increase non-oil revenue amid fiscal challenges.

Given the rapid expansion in the telecoms and betting sectors, authorities are seeking to broaden the nation’s revenue base.

Makinde noted that NEC agreed that more sensitisation on the bill would foster consensus building and help Nigerians have a better understanding of the bills.

“NEC noted the need for sufficient alignment on the proposed reforms and recommended the withdrawal of the tax reform bills,” he stated.

Makinde emphasised that broader discussions could help address miscommunication and misinformation surrounding the tax reform initiative. 

“So, Council, therefore, recommended the need to withdraw the bills currently before the National Assembly on tax reforms so that we can have wider consultations and also build consensus around these reforms for the benefit of the entire country, and also to give people…for them to know the vision and where we are moving the country in terms of tax reform because there’s really a lot of miscommunication, misinformation,” he said.

On October 20, The ICIR reported that the Federal Government, through one of the bills, proposed a five per cent excise duty on telecommunications services, gaming, and betting activities.

The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Repeal Certain Acts on Taxation and Consolidate the Legal Frameworks Relating to Taxation and Enact the Nigeria Tax Act to Provide for the Taxation of Income, Transactions, and Instruments, and Related Matters,” is dated October 4, 2024.

However, it exempted baby products and locally manufactured sanitary towels from tax as part of the process to overhaul Nigeria’s tax framework.

An analysis of the proposed legislation conducted on Friday, October 18, revealed that it aimed to implement excise duties on services including telecommunications, gaming, gambling, lotteries, and betting in Nigeria.

A section of the bill read, “The amount of an excisable transaction is the amount chargeable for the service by the service provider, both in money or money’s worth.

“Services, including telecommunications, gaming, gambling, betting, and lotteries however described, provided in Nigeria shall be charged with duties of excise at the rates specified under the tenth schedule to this Act in a manner as may be prescribed by the service.”

According to the breakdown of the excise duty structure outlined in the bill, telecommunications services, including postpaid and prepaid services regulated by the Nigerian Communications Commission, will be subject to a five per cent duty. The same rate will apply to gaming, gambling, betting, and lottery services.

The bill also established guidelines for currency transactions, indicating that any variance between the current Central Bank of Nigeria exchange rate and the actual transaction rate would incur an excise duty.

The ICIR reported that stakeholders had observed a lack of clarity in the VAT reforms proposal, resulting in a lack of information that Nigerians could engage with, since no policy document could be referenced for public engagement.

 

10 killed, many injured in Ibadan building collapse

Marcus FATUNMOLE
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10 killed, many injured in Ibadan building collapse

AT least 10 people were killed in a building that collapsed at Jegeda Oluloyo area of Ibadan, Ona Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State, Thursday morning.

The Oyo State Fire Services Agency confirmed the tragedy and said seven people were rescued alive from the incident that occurred at 2:am.

A statement issued by the Fire Service said rescue efforts were ongoing.

“The Oyo State Fire Services Agency received a distressed call at around 2 am this morning at Jegede Olunloyo area, Ibadan, of which 10 persons have been recovered from the debris of the collapsed building, while seven persons were rescued alive. Rescue operation is still going on,” the statement stated.

It remained unclear when filing this report if more people were still trapped in the rubbles.

The ICIR reports that building collapses have been recurring across Nigeria, especially in the country’s capital, Abuja (in the North-Central) and the southern part of the country.

On Sunday, October 26, this organisation reported how many people were trapped in a building that collapsed in the Sabon-Lugbe area of the nation’s capital.

The minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had ordered the demolition of some illegal structures in the area.

The collapsed building was among those earlier touched by bulldozers, and it caved in when scavengers attempted to steal iron from one of its pillars.

Seven dead bodies were reportedly pulled out of the rubbles.

The development occurred months after a school building collapsed in the Busa Buji community of Jos, Plateau State on Friday, July 12.

The ICIR reported that at least 17 people died and 154 others were injured as a result of the collapse which occurred when the school children were said to be writing their final term exams.

The ICIR also reported how available records showed that 49 people died in the city from building collapse within 10 years

ICIR receives award for media capacity development

Ehime ALEX
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ICIR receives award for media capacity development

THE International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) has been honoured with a Media Capacity Development Support Award.

It received the award from the Media Career Development Network.

According to the organiser, The ICR is recognised for its invaluable contributions to media capacity development in Nigeria.

The award ceremony took place at the Media Career Development Conference held in Lagos on Thursday, October 31.

Themed ‘Maximising Emerging Media Career Opportunites,’ the conference was convened by the executive director of the Media Career Development Network, Lekan Otufodunrin, and supported by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

Media Career Development Network
Media Career Development Conference held at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, on Thursday, October 31. Image: The ICIR

In a welcome remark, Otufodunrin said it was important for journalists to pay more attention to their career development to fully maximise emerging opportunities, and resources in the media sector.

“We want to draw the attention of all categories of journalists to the need to be more intentional about taking necessary steps required for fulfilling their career goals and aspirations.

“We want to highlight global best practices and strategies for excelling in the profession. Most importantly, we want to show, through the personal stories of exceptional media professionals, how it can be done'” he said.

According to the convener, the conference is in line with their commitment to promoting excellence in media practice and enhancing the careers of Journalists and other media professionals in Nigeria and beyond.

The Nigeria editor at Africa Check, David Ajikobi, in a keynote presentation on ‘The Present, and Future of Media Work,’ urged journalists to upskill to remain relevant in the profession, stressing that upskilling is the only way they can continue to have jobs.

He urged the media to collaborate, noting that as technology advances, there will be increasing opportunities in information-related fields, particularly in data analysis and artificial intelligence (AI).

He stressed the current challenges in information, AI, analytics, and public statistics necessitate a new type of leader who is committed to truth and integrity.

“There is a vision for creating an environment where truth and integrity prevail over misinformation and sensationalism.

“A positive and adaptable mindset is crucial for navigating the evolving media landscape and embracing change,” Ajikobi posited.

He said the ability to adapt to changes is highlighted as essential for success in the future media environment, adding that a proactive and adaptable mindset is essential for individuals and leaders to thrive in an ever-changing media landscape.

The founder and director of Journalism Clinic, Taiwo Obe, urged journalists to develop the ability to think and to be able to provide solutions.

“You can create jobs by thinking and doing,” Obe, one of the speakers, maintained.

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