- * NNL Ombudsman An All Female Member Team
By Chinwendu Agoha (Media & Governance Reporter)
The Board and Management of SeaRoute Communications Limited, Publisher of the NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER NEWSPAPER (a leading Online, e-paper & Print media) and it's sister news publications, have appointed an in-house Ombudsman charged with the responsibility of resolving issues of ethical complaints and media contents involving the organization and its public.
In this respect, Nigerian NewsLeader, therefore, appoints Mrs Juliet Ify Okafor, an experienced former Senior Editorial and Business Development staff of the old Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN) as its local dispute/issues arbitrator (the Ombudsman).
She will be assisted by a lawyer, Barrister Adesuwa Jane Imaseun; a public relation practitioner, Hajia Binta Bello and a media professional, Mrs Folashade Haastrope, in the all female member Ombuds team of the Nigerian NewsLeader Newspapers.
The appointment of Juliet, a development & financial Economist, a Corporate Governance expert and media/public affairs analyst, with a knack for conflict resolution, is in line with the directive by the newly inagurated apex Nigerian Media Ombudsman, the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC) that each operating media house in Nigeria should institute at the newspaper level, a local Ombudsman.
Besides, the appointment of an internal Ombudsmen by the Nigerian NewsLeader media, is also in tandem with the organization's already stated professional and corporate commitment, to "abide very strongly, by the hallowed Journalism principles of balanced, fair and factual reporting of news and information matters" in the public, ethical and community interest.
The Nigerian NewsLeader and it's founders, believe, very strongly, as part of its mission goals, that as a society's watchdog, ethical conduct and accountability in Journalism are the basis of public trust and confidence in our professional practice. Therefore, like all responsible and credible news medium operating in a democratic, lawful and free society as Nigerias, the NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER affirm its corporate support to the system of self and lawful regulation, under the newly established Supreme Media Ombudsman, the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC).
The NewsLeader media group also believe in the lawful responsibility of the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC) to help mediate on issues and complaints against the unethical conduct of the Press and it's practitioners and the need for redress where there is clearly established injury of any kind in the course of our professional practice.
Recall, however, that the umbrella body of the Nigerian Media Associations, Nigeria Press Organizations (NPO), on Monday, April 3rd, 2023, inaugurated a nine-member board of the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), otherwise known as the National Ombudsman, in what was described as a major step by the media industry to strengthen public confidence in the sector through prompt resolution of issues bordering on ethical breaches in media content.
The NPO coalition that is driving this process are the Newspaper Proprietors' Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), along with other strategic media players and the civil society, and in particular, the MacArthur Foundation.
According to the NPO, the new Media Complaints Commission will "serve as an independent forum for resolving complaints about the press quickly, fairly, and free of charge; maintain high standards of Nigerian Journalism and journalistic ethics; and defend the freedom of the press and the rights of the people to know".
The National Ombudsman, the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), will serve as an appellate body for the local Ombudsman as well as a court of first instance.
Members of the Commission were mainly respected industry operators who have distinguished themselves in the media profession. They were drawn from the media, the bar, the academia, and civil society. The chief Obudusman (chairman) is Mr. Emeka Izeze, a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and a former Managing Director of the Guardian Newspapers.
Others are: Mr. A. B Mahmoud, SAN, OON, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association; Prof Chinyere Stella Okunna, a Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Paul University, Awka, Anambra State; Dr. Hussain Abdu, a Development Specialist and Country Director, Care International (Nigeria) and Mr. Lanre Idowu, FNGE, Editor-in-Chief, Diamond Publications Limited and Founder, Diamond Awards For Media Excellence (DAME)
Other members include, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA); Mrs. Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo, FNGE, a Journalist, Lawyer and Arbitrator ; Mrs. Eugenia Abu, a Broadcaster, Author, and Columnist, and the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Information. NNL.
