Governor Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai has appointed a veteran broadcaster, Ibrahim Ismail Ahmed, as the new Managing Director of the Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC).
A statement by the Special Assistant to Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan said that the new MD is expected to use his wealth of experience in broadcasting to achieve the goals of the government.
The new MD is an experienced broadcaster who has traversed radio and television.
Ahmed is currently the Assistant Director, Director General’s Special Unit at the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) headquarters, where he has been Assistant Director (News) and Manager/Head of News and Current Affairs on News 24.
He holds a first degree in Language Arts from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a Master’s Degree in Media and Communication from the Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos.
He has attended several professional and leadership courses in his 26-year career in broadcasting. [myad]

The Dangote Women Network (DWN), over the weekend, raised over N20 million at charity walk aimed at creating awareness on the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) that are affected by insurgency in the Northeast. The charity walk, led by the President/Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and other senior executives, drew participation from over five hundred women across Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director, Dangote Flour, and chief driver of the charity walk, Halima Dangote, expressed sadness at the deplorable living conditions of IDPs and called for help from well-meaning Nigerians to ameliorate pains and sufferings of the victims who have suffered untold hardship.
Halima Dangote mentioned the various intervention initiatives by Dangote Foundation which is in excess of N5 billion and appealed for Nigerians to do more to bring lasting relief to IDPs, especially women and children.
She commended Dangote women for their unwavering support, commitment, sacrifice and financial contribution made to IDPs through the initiative.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our women for their donations and contribution towards making the charity walk a success.”
She further appealed to all public spirited individuals and organizations to rise up to be counted at this time of hardship for the IDPs.
The funds raised will be used to provide mosquito repellant blankets, food items and warm clothing for the IDP as harmattan is approaching.
The President of the Dangote Group, Aliko applauded the initiative of the women group, even as he stressed the significance of giving back. “Giving back is the key to success.”
He added that no humanitarian assistance is too small to render to the people in need.
“I therefore encourage you to give back, and that gesture would never be in vain.”
He also pledged his full support to the women’s network, and encourage them to do more.
In her closing remark, the CEO of the Foundation, Ms Zouera Youssoufou said that the foundation is ready to contribute to peace and security in all parts of Nigeria describing the gesture as a huge success which would go a long way in touching the lives of many. [myad]

Nigeria Presidency has confirmed that the nation’s Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas is due to retire from service next week but that the government has not picked his replacement.
Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, in a statement reacting to media report that the retiring Chief of Naval Staff has been replaced by the President along with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, Adesina described it as a fictitious story.
“General Olonisakin is due to retire from the Army next week, having satisfied the official number of years in service. He is yet to be replaced. But the Chief of Naval Staff has a short while more, and President Buhari could, therefore, not have approved his replacement yet.
“This administration has repeatedly pledged commitment to transparency and accountability, and one of the hallmarks of that is making information available to the media.
“But when some sections of the media would rather speculate, than cross-check and double check information, then it borders on deliberate mischief. That, surely, is not the way to go, for national cohesion and development.” [myad]

“The 2017 Budget proposals which I will lay before the National Assembly on Wednesday, will contain measures that we are confident will get the nation out of its economic woods.”

These were the words of President Muhammadu Buhari in his Eid-El-Maulud celebration message to the nation. The festivity, which marks the Birthday of Prophet Muhammad, will commence tomorrow, Monday for which public has already been declared.

Buhari called on Nigerians not to lose faith in the ability of his government to make a difference in their lives.

“The reality of the temporary challenges should not undermine our hope, reverse our collective will to succeed, or divide us; rather it should remind us of why we need to stay together, fight together and succeed together.  We all share a vision of a better Nigeria, and we will all share in the responsibility of building the country of our dreams.

“As we look forward to 2017 with hope and huge expectations, let me assure you that with collective dedication and hard work, we will overcome the mountain of economic difficulties, and return our country to the path of prosperity.”

Part of the speech goes thus:

Dear Compatriots,

Again the calendar of life has brought us into another period of celebration, and deep reflection. Celebration, because we are marking the birth of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), and deep reflection, because it is another opportunity of pausing, taking a deep breath and reflecting on the current realities before us.

First of all, I wish all Muslims a happy and memorable celebration of the birth of the great Prophet, through whose teachings, particularly on peaceful living, tolerance, sobriety, generosity, sacrifice and honesty, and wisdom, the nation has gained immensely in building a harmonious and prosperous society. The universal truths of the Prophet’s values remain unchanged.

Against all odds, we have used these pillars of strength in securing a just and fair society, and our efforts are beginning to yield dividends in curbing terrorism, militancy, corruption and other crimes that devalue our humanity.

As we celebrate and reflect, I wish all Nigerians a peaceful Eid-el-Maulud. [myad]

Former governor of Anambra state and currently Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has warned his fellow Igbos that politics of self-alienation would not make way for Ndigbo to have a shot at the Presidency when their time comes.

Ngige disclosed that there was an understanding that the presidency would go round the major ethnic groups in the country, stressing that Ndigbo could get their turn by embracing other parts of the country with open hands and not politics of alienation.

Speaking with journalists at the weekend during the annual convention and 2016 graduation ceremony of Skill Acquisition Students of Bina Foundation, Enugu, Ngige further warned Ndigbo against politics of alienation. He asked them to embrace other parts of the country with open hands.

Reacting he statement made by the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Joe Nwaorgu that President Muhammadu Buhari was promoting politics of exclusion against the people of the Southeast, the former Anambra strong man dismissed the allegation, saying that Buhari loves Ndigbo.

“I am sure the statement did not emanate from Ohanaeze. It is the personal opinion of the Secretary General, Dr Joe Nwaorgu, my personal friend. Ohanaeze has a means of expressing its views in a press statement by the President General and such a statement must emanate from Imeobi (inner caucus).

“When you go to Buhari’s antecedents, you see his love for Igbos. His Brigade Commander was an Igboman. After the war, he did not kill Prisoners of War. He brought back his classmates, J.C. Ojukwu and the other man from Ojoto in Anambra State. He is a good man. He keeps to himself. He is disciplined in office.

“He doesn’t drink. He doesn’t smoke. He is a man who does any work efficiently. He has Igbo friends. It is wrong to say that Igbos didn’t vote for him in 2015. There was no voting across Igboland. It was vote allocation.

“I don’t want to join issues with him (Nwaorgu). I have held various positions in Ohanaeze before him. I championed Aka Ikenga. His Igboness is not stronger than mine. It is still very early. We should stop crying over spilt milk.

“We got 20 pounds after the war. We should leverage on our prosperity, industrial spirit, ingenuity and propensity for work to forge ahead. We need political fitness and diplomacy and we will not be left behind.

“Former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme has done a lot in successive constitutional conferences on the zoning structure and regional cooperation. I have always espoused that at Aka Ikenga. We do it and the rest shall be added unto us.” [myad]