Media
World Press Freedom Day: Buhari Lauds media Over Fight Against COVID-19

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the role of the Nigerian media in keeping people informed and educated on the pernicious Coronavirus pandemic in the country.
The President gave the commendation in a statement by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Saturday, to mark this year’s World Press Freedom Day.
He said: “We cannot overemphasize the role of the media in keeping people informed and educated on the pernicious virus, which has no friend or foe.
”It simply seeks to mow down anyone and everyone in its path, and public awareness is very important, lest we become like sitting ducks.The media are doing this quite effectively.
”He further charged the media to continue with their good work, “till we get to safe harbour, when the world, and our country are finally free of this greatest health challenge in recent history.”
While reflecting on the theme of World Press Freedom Day 2020, ‘Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation,’ President Buhari opined that Nigeria has a very unhealthy dose of disinformation, fake news, hate news, purveyed by people who use media platforms, particularly the digital variant.
”They don’t mean well for us, and no country can afford to close its eyes to the evil disinformation can cause. In a plural polity like ours, it has the potential to rupture relationships, sow seeds of discord, and set on the path of destabilisation.
”When fake and hate news are added unabashedly, it can only signpost doom. I urge the Press to use the occasion of World Press Freedom Day to see how this can be vigorously tackled,” he added.
On the part of government, the President pledged a recommitment to the ideals of freedom of the press, noting that democracy thrives better in an atmosphere of transparency, as opposed to opacity.
“We appreciate the cooperation we have enjoyed from the media in tackling the Coronavirus, and look forward to same, post COVID-19, when all hands must be on deck to repair the damages done to our economic and social lives,” the president affirmed(NAN)
Media
Kogi Journalists Partner KGIRS On Tax Administration Enlightenment

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Practicing Journalists in Kogi state have expressed readiness to partner with the State Internal Revenue Service on tax administration enlightenment and adequate publicity of its activities.
Chairman, Correspondents’ Chapel, Kogi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Segun Salami, gave the indication when he led his members on a visit to the Executive Chairman of KGIRS, Alhaji Salihu Sule Enehe.
Salami promised a robust collaboration with the agency in creation of public awareness on the need for all taxable citizens to embrace prompt payment of their personal income taxes.
“Our task as journalists is to assist the agency in meeting up with its target of revenue generation for Kogi government through our social responsibility duty of enlightening the people to key into regular and prompt payment of their taxes as when due
“Journalists also owe it as a duty to alert citizens on the need to contribute their quota towards the development of their state and the nation in general by meeting up with their financial commitment on prompt tax payment”
Salami advocated for quarterly media interaction with the agency as part of the partnership move in publicising its activities.
He commended the Executive Chairman and his management team for the resouding success so far recorded in generating more revenue for the state government to provide the needed democracy dividends to the people.
Responding, the Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, Alhaji Salihu Sule Enehe, expressed delight over the prevailing cordial relationship between his angency and practicing Journalists in Kogi since assumption of office.
He promised to sustain the feat in the interest of both parties geared towards achieving accelerated transformation of Kogi.
Enehe also gave an assurance that he would live above board under the partnership agreement which according to him would go a long way in improving the agency’s services of mobilizing resources for the development of the state.
Media
Nami, Ex-FIRS Chairman Receives Top10 Magazine ‘Man of the Year 2023’ Award

Health
ICRC Trains 25 Journalists on First Aid Treatment in Yola

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