From Yagana Ali, Yola.

The International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) has organized a three -day training for 25 journalists on effective First Aid Treatment to prospective casualties.

The workshop, which took place in Yola drew the beneficiaries from different media houses across the state.

In a presentation, Communication Field Officer of the organization, Lemdi Edmond took the participants memory lane from its cradle to limelight.

He pointed out that ICRC intervenes basically in crises involving armed conflicts translating to man -made or unnatural disasters.

Edmond further explained that while the International Federation of the Red Cross intervenes in the area of natural disasters, like flood and earthquake, the National Red Cross Societies handles both natural and man – made situations.

The Communication Field Officer identified seven principles of the Committee to include humanity, impartiality,Neutrality and independence among others.

On their parts, First Aid and Pre-hospital Care Field Office Yola and Abuja respectively, Charity Maxwell and Daniel Ebodor jointly exposed the participants to the meaning, relevance and significance of the First Aid.

They maintained that First Aids basically aimed to save life, prevent condition from further deteriorating and promote speedy recovery.

They identified truthfulness, sympathy, resourcefulness, tolerance and empathy among others as qualities of a good First Aider.

The duo also enumerated and extensively explained Primary Survey variables relating to First Aid as Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing and chest compression.

Interestingly, the participants were vigorously engaged in practical First Aid treatment on various aspects having to do with Burns, Fainting, Fracture and bleeding among others.

Highlights of the training were questions and answers, presentation of certificate and First Aid Kits to the participants

 By David Torough, Abuja

The Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), on Thursday, urged the Federal Government to support the print media to prevent it  from going extinct.

Members of NPAN said this in Abuja, during a Business Lunch for some of their colleagues who were recently appointed as ministers.

Four members of the association were recently appointed as ministers by President Bola Tinubu.

They include Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Economy; Mr Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development; Alhaji Mohammed  Idris Malagi, Minister of Information and National Orientation, and Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy.

The President of NPAN,  Malam Kabir Yusuf, said that the media deserved to be supported because it played an integral role in national development.

Yusuf commended Tinubu for finding so many members of the association worthy to be appointed as ministers.

The publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, and life patron of NPAN, Mr Sam Amuka, said that it was commendable to have four of his colleagues as ministers.

He advised the ministers to represent the association well, urging them to use their influence in government to ensure a free press.

“Let the Newspapers Breathe,” he told the Ministers as he emphasised the need for Federal government intervention to save the Newspaper industry from imminent collapse.

“The Newspapers are losing revenues everyday,” Amuka stated.

In his response, the Finance Minister, Wale Edun, assured the association that Tinubu’s economic reforms would be beneficial to all individuals and groups within the country.

Edun urged members of NPAN to support the government by being factual and objective in their reportage.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, who  described himself as an NPAN ambassador in government, urged journalists to be analytical and to always resist the temptation to peddle falsehood.

“Do not join the crowd to peddle falsehood, ” he said.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described himself as the luckiest information minister in history.

Malagi said that his plan was to change the face of government communication.

“Trust in the communication coming out of government will be encouraged.

“I will not tell lies; I will say it the way it is. You people should also report it the way it is, ” he said.

He said that the government would also take steps to restore the integrity of public broadcasting by equipping and empowering government-owned broadcast houses.

Also present at the business lunch was veteran journalist and former governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba, as well as prominent senior Nigerian journalists, proprietors, President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and that of Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba( additional reports from NAN)

By Jude Opara, Abuja

As part of efforts to reposition the newspaper for optimum corporate performance, The management of Asset Newspapers Limited, Publishers of DAILY ASSET, has announced the appointment of Benjamin Atonko as the new Editor of the Abuja-based national daily.

In a statement yesterday, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the fast -growing daily, Dr Cletus Akwaya said the appointment was part of the new strategy to properly situate the paper for better productivity.

“DAILY ASSET has a commitment with the Nigeian people. We are determined to weather the storm and give Nigerian readers a Newspaper that satisfies their yearnings and reading pleasure and  we can only do that with the right set of professionals,” the statement said.

Akwaya, a former Commissioner of Information from Benue State said the difficult times being faced by Nigerians posed a great challenge to the media as the people deserved credible information with which to make choices.

“We have a bond with the people, to offer credible information at all times in the best tradition of the Nigerian Press and o this scale of objectivity, truth and fairness, we pledge to remain steadfast no matter the challenges,” Akwaya was quoted to have said.

The statement also said the Management named Matthew Dadiya as Deputy Editor, while David Torough was named Deputy News Editor.

Born on November 16, 1973, the Editor, Ben Atonko hails from   Vandeikya Local Government Area, Benue State.

He holds a BA.Ed English from the University of Jos. Atonko has over 20 years of active Journalism.

He was Property Editor for Daily Trust newspaper and has served as editorial consultant to many organisations including the National Gallery of Art Headquarters, Abuja.

Before joining the Media Trust Group, he had worked with Abuja Tempo, National Mirror and Leadership Newspaper.

As part of his advocacy for safer roads in Nigeria, he has published Bleeding Roads, a book that gives the grim tales of Nigerian roads.

The new Deputy Editor, Dadiya who hails from Kaduna state joined ASSET Newspapers in 2019 from Daily Times, where he was Deputy Business Editor/State House Correspondent. He was formerly  a Correspondent at the Saharareporters. He holds Bachelor of Arts Media and Journalism, University of Hertfordshire, UK, a Fellow, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), IMF 21 trained Sub -Saharan African journalists in The Gambia;  and was amongst 19 Journalists trained by African Export & Import Bank (Afreximbank) in Casablanca, Morroco as well as a Certificate holder at the Lagos Business School (LBS).

Until his appointment, Dadiya was State House Bureau Chief for DAILY ASSET.

The new Deputy News Editor, David Torough, hails from Kwande Loca Government Area of Benue State. He graduated with B. Sc in Mass Communication from the  Benue state University, Makurdi in 2018.

After the mandatory National Youth Service(NYSC) programme in Bayelsa State, Torough began his journalism career  with The Newtelescope Newspaper in Makurdi.

He joined DAILY ASSET in 2022 as Benue State Correspondent, from which position he was

named the  Deputy News Editor.