Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council,has inaugurated the Group of Online Media Practitioners of Oyo State (GOMPOS),the new chapel of the Council.
Inaugurating the chapel at the Press Centre,Oyo NUJ chairman, Comrade Demola Babalola, said the arrival of the new online media practitioners came at a time when the practice of journalism, especially the online, calls for serious attention and self-control.
He expressed satisfisfaction with the credibility of those who championed the course,adding that the new chapel will be shining light in the NUJ.
According to him, having satisfied the requirements of the NUJ, members of the new chapel are now entitled to some benefits which other chapels have been enjoying.
Babalola, who offered an office complex for the chapel within the Press Centre, maintained that members of GOMPOS can now enjoy from the NUJ Estate, trainings and seminars, and other value adding activities of the journalists’ association in the state.
In his remarks, the coordinator of the group,, Mr Femi Atoyebi, said the leadership quality of the Comrade Babalola’s leadership is one of the major factors that led to the birth of the new chapel.
He said:”We are glad to be part of the chapel that was inaugurated during your tenure and we promised to abide by the ethics of the profession.
Atoyebi added that membership of the chapel were carefully selected according to the requirements of the NUJ.
In his vote of thanks on behalf of the other members of GOMPOS, Mr Dapo Falade also assured the leadership of the NUJ, Oyo State Council, that the new chapel will live up to expectations.
He noted that the members were seasoned and experienced journalists who have been operating in accordance with the ethics of journalism.
He added that the members of the group will bring their wealth of experience to bear in the quest to sanitise online journalism.
MOTORING
Nigerian Automotive Industry Rakes N500bn,Eyes Production Of 400,000 Vehicles Annually
Mr. Jelani Aliyu, Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council(NADDC), says Nigerian automotive industry has the capacity to produce 400,000 vehicles annually.
Aliyu who stated this at a media parley in Abuja, said over N500billion has been invested in the Nigerian automotive industry by various vehicle manufacturing companies in the country.
He revealed that the National Automotive Industry Development Plan(NAIDP) is being reviewed by KPMG to make it more applicable to the global development, adding that both local and international stakeholders are waiting for its review.
Aliyu said NADDC was committed to the development of local automobile industry, as the mandate of the Agency is ensure that vehicles used in Nigeria are for the most part produced and assembled in Nigeria
He disclosed that the agency has attracted attention of leading international car manufacturers such as Volkswagen, Toyota, adding that these companies were eager to see the reviewed NAIDP signed into law.
He added: “vehicle manufacturing companies are springing up in Nigeria, even companies that had stopped work in Nigeria, are back on track.”
He said his agency would continue to support companies that produce vehicles locally, adding that Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing has continued to export vehicles to African countries, of recent, is Sierra Leone.
The NADDC boss said Volkswagen is very much interested to come to Nigeria to produce vehicles, adding that NADDC had recently signed agreement with the vehicle manufacturing company.
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Pursuant to efforts to boost local production of vehicles, Aliyu said the officials of the agency travelled to Japan recently where they met Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, adding that these companies had indicated interest to expand their business activities to Nigeria.
Acknowledging that there are plethora of challenges confronting the industry, he said, there are tremendous efforts put in place by government to overcome them, adding that Nigeria’s automotive industry will not be defined by those challenges.
Speaking on creating market for the manufactured vehicles in Nigeria, Aliyu revealed that NADDC is working closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) to provide credit facilities for Nigerians to buy and own vehicles.
He said: “After the production of vehicles, the next thing is the market. It is time for the market to deliver, the market needs help, that is why we are working with the CBN and other financial institutions for the provision of single digit interest rate to enable more Nigerians to buy and own vehicles.”