Vice President Kashim Shettima has said President Bola Ahmed
Tinubu is very much interested in the security situation in Nigeria and is not
taking it lightly.He called for regional and collective efforts to address theinsecurity in West Africa’s Sahel region, observing that the security situation
in the Sahel region has significant implications for Nigeria and neighboring
countries.Speaking on Monday during an audience with the leadership ofthe News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Presidential Villa, the Vice President
emphasised the importance of collaborative action and called for wider support
for NAN’s upcoming international lecture on Sahel security.He stated: “The international lecture NAN is organizing
interested in and is not taking it lightly.”
The Vice President expressed optimism about the potential
outcomes of the conference, saying, “I believe that with the caliber of
people that will grace the lecture, you will come up with a lot of perspectives
on how to address the insecurity in the Sahel holistically.”
VP Shettima also commended NAN for its crucial role in
Nigeria’s media landscape. “Your organization plays a crucial role in
Nigeria’s media landscape, helping to bridge the information gap and shape
public discussion on national issues,” he said.
Earlier, NAN Managing Director, Ali Mohammed Ali, disclosed
the theme of the conference, “Insecurity in the Sahel (2008-2024):
Dissecting Nigeria’s Challenges- Genesis, Impacts and Options.”
He announced that the lead speaker at the Lecture billed for
September 25, 2024, would be Mohamed Ibn Chambas, former Chairperson of the
ECOWAS Commission.
According to him, the conference is part of NAN’s efforts to
expand its role beyond news dissemination to actively contributing to national
discourse and problem-solving.
“NAN is organizing its first international lecture as
part of the media’s role to expand the frontiers of knowledge and find
solutions to problems,” Ali explained.
He outlined several initiatives aimed at enhancing NAN’s
reach and effectiveness, including the introduction of vernacular broadcasting,
starting with a Hausa portal plans to reopen international offices,
particularly the London bureau, and efforts to intensify coverage across all
109 senatorial districts in Nigeria.
“No one knows Nigeria better than NAN,” Ali added,
noting the agency’s extensive network of correspondents and offices across the
country.
Ali also revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to
Sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China’s Xinhua News Agency during
His current visit to China is to expand NAN’s international partnerships further.
Others present at the meeting included NAN’s Director of
Administration, Abdulhadi Khalil; Director of Special Duties, Muftau Ojo;
Deputy Director of Multimedia, Ismail Abdulaziz, and Board Secretary, Ngozi
Anofochi.
