2011: INEC partners with credible youth groups

2011: INEC partners with credible youth groups

INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega said in Abuja on Tuesday that INEC would identify and partner with credible youth groups to ensure effective co-operation in the 2011 elections.

Jega, who spoke at a lecture organised by the U.S. Mission on “Elections and Democracy in Africa: Restoring Nigerian Leadership ” said that the youth in Nigeria have a vital role to play in the forthcoming elections.

‘’We are open, any group that comes to us, we would listen to them, partner with them and ensure those who are credible are carried along to ensure a free, fair and credible elections,'' he said.

Jega also said that INEC would engage political parties in legal condition campaign awareness toward enhancing credibility during elections.

‘’We have been engaging political parties, making them aware of our responsibilities when it comes to monitoring their activities and also bringing civility into political contestation which is very, very important,'' he said.

He charged politicians to change their mindset of a ‘’do or die politics’’.

2011: INEC to engage military n distribution of materials Military

2011: INEC to engage military in distribution of materials
Military
INEC said in Abuja today that it would insist on the use of the military for successful and timely distribution of materials for the 2011 general elections.

Mr Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it was a standard practice to involve the military in such an exercise.

Idowu said the services of the military were employed in the past to overcome prevailing challenges in transversing tough terrains.

He added it was crucial to ensure that election materials were successfully distributed to such areas.

``It is a standard practice that would have no negative implications, the military was used in the past and that recorded successes.

``So we are fine tuning guidelines to ensure another success this time around,’’ Idowu said.

NAN recalled that Jega during an interactive session with traditional rulers in Ibadan on Friday revealed INEC’s plan to use the military in 2011 elections.

Reacting to INEC's engagement of the military in distributing election materials, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) lauded the initiative in terms of logistics needed during elections.

Mr Osita Okechukwu, National Publicity Secretary, CNPP, however, said that while the military would be used for the purpose of distributing materials, `` they should be out of the conduct of the proper elections’’.

``In terms of logistics, the use of the military is the best option but they shouldn’t help in the conduct of the elections,’’ said Okechukwu.

Similarly, a pro-democracy group, the Northern Patriotic Front (NPF) said the use of the military to distribute materials should not arouse any worries among the electorate.

Alhaji Ali Abacha, the Chairman of NPF, said that inviting the military for distribution of materials was aimed at confronting the challenges inherent in tough terrains.

Abacha stressed the need for a reform in the behaviour of eligible voters toward a successful 2011 general elections.

He also called on the political parties to take voter education as a necessity for a successful electoral process.

Abacha said the group would also enlighten the electorate on the gains of partaking in the electoral process through their sensitisation programmes.

``The sensitisation programme would cut across all the northern states of the country with a view to enlightening the electorate on the imperative of participating in the electoral process,’’ he said.

Abacha said the enlightenment programme would target people at the motor parks, places of worship and educational institutions.

Actress Vs Lawmaker

Lagos Assembly to sue actress over allegations of assault

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday said it will take a legal action against claims made by a Nollywood actress, Ufoma Ejenabor.

Addressing a media briefing on the issue, Segun Olusesi, the Chief of Staff of the Assembly, said the House will make the issue a deterrent case. The incident,which happened on October 29 on Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, had two different accounts from the two parties.

While Ufoma claimed one of the vehicles (the Pilot) in the lawmakers' convoy hit her Nissan Xterra car, Mr. Olusesi, who claimed to be driving directly behind the Pilot vehicle said Miss Ufoma drove into the convoy, hitting the left rear of ‘the pilot ‘ vehicle's bumper with her right front bumper.

"Even if it is true that we hit her car, which cannot be proven from the video recording, when there is an accident on the road, the first thing you do is not to call a lawyer. So, it was obvious she was onto something right from the beginning and that was why the Speaker directed that everything be recorded," he said.

A rowdy scene ensued and rather than continue on their journey to Lagos University Teaching Hospital to visit an ailing lawmaker, who died three days later, the lawmakers decided to drive to Zone 2 Police headquarters at Onikan. As seen from the footage provided, the intervention of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Lateef Junaid could not resolve the impasse as Mrs. Ejenabor refused all entreaties.

Claims and counter claims

Though, Mrs. Ejenabor did not make any statement to the police, she claimed, in a letter dated November 2 and written to the Speaker by her lawyer, Obinna Ukawoko, that she was beaten and that her vehicle was damaged. She also alleged that the following items stolen: white gold necklace (N850,000), Silver Gucci wristwatch (N475,000), Pink Ipod (N55,000), Blackberry Bold (N150,000) and Channel Sunglasses ($1,215). She also claimed that her wedding band, worth £3,000 was broken and her damaged vehicle will be repaired for N595,000.

"We have our client's firm directive to demand N35million as compensation," said the letter, advising the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, to quickly pay in order to avert imminent bad publicity and legal action.

Mr. Olusesi rebuffed all the claims, saying that the video showed Mrs. Ejenabor as she drove her car away from the police station without any visible damage and she still had her wedding band and bag while she was at the station.

"The photograph of her damaged car, as she claimed in the media, can be best described as insurance fraud and an attempt to extort and blackmail this Honourable House and the Right Honourable Speaker in particular," he said.

"Nobody touched her. At a time when the security officers were not sure what to do with her, one of them wanted to deflate her tyres, but the Speaker kept shouting from inside his vehicle that nobody should touch her vehicle." "If she was beaten by policemen as she claimed, she won't be the one to drive her vehicle to Zone 2 headquarters. Her dress was intact throughout and she claimed she was stripped. She alleged that her fingernails were broken but she refused to show the police. And if she was truly in pains as a result of the beating, she will not be able to put up such display at the police station." "She provoked everybody present, including the members of the public. She wanted to be beaten by the way she behaved but we were lucky and matured enough, especially because we were in a state of mourning and that is why we didn't give it to her."Back

Journalism, Which Way Nigerian Students?

Journalism [Broadcasting, Public Relations and Advertisement} Which Way Nigerian ?

I imagine how to make things REALY work. How to make it MEDIA be MEDIA, irrespective of NAtion Continent Or Location.
As a Journalist-In-Training, I can't comprehend how easy{if even possible at all}, to train in Nigeria and work outside the Nation {without, any other training}. Media/Multimedia has gone DIGITal.
Analogue to Digital transformation is another issue. BON requires Every Broadcasting firm in Nigeria to be Transmitting on Digital Platform by January 2013. Next question is How prepare are Nigerian in the Broadcasting Industry? How Prepare is BON, Ministry of Information and Nigerian Government and Nigerians at large? Intership Programme gives me an added opportunity to experience how things happen in Radio Broadcasting.
The Print Media and Photo Journalism is another area where Journalism is facing severe barriers in this part of the World. Though, several International Organizations are of supports for students of Mass Communications{Liberal Art, Journalism or the likes}. Yet, it's still not of International and proper standards.
I'm having a Quality Education in Nigeria, which many other students are missing, LASPOTECH, Ikorodu is doing a great job in ensuring a qualitative education in the country. This would be better if other institution can follow.

How long should Nigerian continue HalfBaked Education? ...

Greatest Communicators! Great!
Graetest LASPOCIANS! Great!

MACSA promises to give members souveniers to newly admitted members in returns to the due paid, the pack was not stated for reason best known to them. I could be greediness, poor accountability or sellfish interest,Pardon my use of words.
But later the 'The Pack' was unmask and given out to members. In the Pack is a pen, a sticker and an exercise book. Giving sticker is fine but what sort of sticker matters to me.This is Mass Communication Departmant, that offer Graphics design, Advertising,Public Raltions and few other graphics and design related courses. The type of Sticker in question does no fit this environment{MACSA}. OBANLA is the Gen.Sec of this Asso and also operatin a clothingLine, I cant see him expressing himself. I wonder how and why he couldnt make it relating his skill in our community{MACSA}. If an Enginering student, a Computer Science Student and many other non-mass communication students can operate an Art and Desing outfit and be doing good in there various departmant and beyond I cont comprend MACSA patronising such an outdated sticker.
ExerciseBook, hnm, 3-In-1. People have way of calling people fool, because I can't imagin why MACSA cuold give an exercise book less 80 leaves a 3-In-1 exercise book.
I think the MACSA Excos {and even LASPOSUG}should understand that freshers {ND1 STUDENT} are fresher only in LASPOTECH not beyond, and the be mindfull of the fact that the the Freshers can even get things done better than they could ever imagine.
Greatest Communicators! Great! !! !!!
Greatest LASPOCIANs! Great! !! !!!

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Greatest Communicators! !! !!!
Great! Great!! Great!!!

This is the 'USUAL Intro' when there's need to talk to the Journalists-In-Training. The 'Greatest' that prefixes the Communicators and also the respond is use by many Organisation who 're acctually GREAT in real sense of it and a few ones who stare at being Great. For instance Labour Union, Student Union to list a few.
Now, MACSA [LASPOTECH Chapter] 're we really GreaT in acctual sense? If not, 're we on the right track to be Great? I understand a slave can never grant anyone a freedaom, but , hey, we gat to make things happen. We need to make CHANGE happen in our fast growing community{MACSA} . I as a fresher in the community, was made understood that, some office 'r reserve for particular level. Nothing is wrong with this, but can this make a good 'Team'.
Despite the zoning stuff, I think MACSA can still refuse any candidate found not good enough, I mean after a written and oral interview is properly conducted. The affected class would be inform about the decision and imploy them to send another better candidate. With this 'format', our community would have a good representative, make a good team and re-rail our derailed community MACSA. And also lead us to greatness while we 'r still student and the good work would live longer after we left LASPOTECH. And remember 'A Polyt is always a Polyt'. 'Greatest Communicators!', 'Graet!'.
'Greatest LASPOcians!', Great!.