*BY sdnonline*

Guests at Ziroc Residence, one of Nigeria’s leading hotels have been assured of a more wholesome experience in 2021 as they continue to make the hotel their choice destination in Lagos. Ziroc Residence, according to its management, has implemented several initiatives to avail guests comfort, safety and the right ambience for business or leisure.

“We are constantly implementing best-in-class solutions to ensure guests receive value for money every time they stay at our hotel,” declared the management, while reviewing the outgone year. One of these initiatives is implementing the health authorities’ recommended protocols to ensure guests are not exposed to COVID-19.

“With studies indicating that transmission of the virus can be halted with high level hygiene, we regularly deep-clean our rooms and every other space with the major objective of reducing to zero, the possibility of spread of the virus in our hotel,” the management stated. This is in addition to regular checks to limit possibility of the spread of the virus on the hotel premises.

While thanking its clients that have made Ziroc Residence home away from home, the management stated that it has invested in facility upgrade to enrich their experience. “Without our clients, we could not have come this far. We are restating our commitment to continue to make our guests the focus of our operations.”

Ziroc Residence, located in the highbrow Lekki Phase One area of Lagos, has the right ambience and extra security for guests during their visit. “The hotel’s location is perfect, especially for guests on business trips, as we are located close to the headquarters of major corporations in Nigeria,” stated the management.

Guests regularly go online to rate Ziroc Residence highly on hygiene and safety in reviews posted after their stay. The hotel has a restaurant, bar, shared lounge and garden. There is also an indoor swimming pool, in addition to airport transfers and free Wi-Fi throughout the property.

By sdnonline

Friends and associates including an assemblage of journalists will be gathering at a posthumous birthday to honour late Mrs. Aramide Oikelome, former Religion Editor of Independent Newspapers Limited. Mrs. Oikelome, who until her death in June this year was a Girls’ Right Advocate and Founder, Girls Arise Initiative, in addition to running Goshen Home & Orphanage, among other initiatives.

The posthumous birthday event, organised by her family holds on Saturday, November 28.

The program, which is billed to hold at the Father’s House Church, 90, Ajayi Farm, Akute by 9am will witness a variety of events such as music ministrations and performances, tributes and the unveiling of Aramide Global Girls Arise Initiative.

Expected guests include Rev Richard Udoh, the General Overseer of the Father’s House; Pastor (Mrs.) Nike Lamai; Tony Ademuyiwa/Biodun Adebiyi; Girls Arise Team; Funmi Sax; Goshen Children Choir; ministers from Men of Purpose Ministry; Best spring Board of Trustees; Best spring choir, Pat Uwaje King among others.

Elizabeth Aramide Kehinde Oikelome, who died on Friday, June 19, 2020, after a brief illness, was a Media Practitioner and Media Consultant. She was a journalist with over 20 years cognate experience garnered from both private and mainstream media.

She worked as the Head of the Religious Desk in Daily Independent before she resigned few years ago.

A Girls’ Right Advocate and Founder, Girls Arise Initiative, Aramide Oikelome was at the forefront of the vanguard to safeguard the girl-child against all forms of abuse and provided a safe space for her conquer all obstacles and maximize her potentials. She promoted advocacy against early child marriage, child-labour, rape, human trafficking and other forms of exploitation that tend to keep the girl-child down and out.  

Through Girls’ Arise Initiative, she inspired and supports girls to acquire good education and build life skills in spite of financial hardship and cultural barriers. She believed that girls should be resilient in pursuing a great career/leadership opportunity despite all odds.

By extension, she also ran an Adolescent Mothers Club to bring healing to pregnant girls, teenage mothers/out of school girls and builds a strong support system for them by giving them a second chance to rebuild their lives through education and economic empowerment.

Aramide Oikelome was a woman of many parts- a wife, mother, sister, friend, journalist, public speaker, counselor, Child’s Rights Advocate, Girls’ Right Advocate, Care-giver, Philanthropist, Social Entrepreneur and much more.

-By sdnonline-

The governing council of Covenant University (CU) Ota, Ogun state has appointed Dr. Kehinde Oyesomi as Head of Department (HOD), Mass Communication. Oyesomi, by the appointment becomes the first female HOD of the Department, effective Friday, 23^rd October, 2020.

Before the appointment, she was the Coordinator of Departmental Affairs as well as Chair of Research and Publications, and Coordinator of Postgraduate Studies Programme at the Department of Mass Communication, Covenant University.

Oyesomi, who is a senior lecturer in the institution, has 15 years working experience spanning journalism, corporate communications and teaching. She holds BSc and MSc degrees in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos and PhD in Mass Communication from Covenant University. She also obtained a Post-Doctoral Fellowship from North West University, South Africa. 

An award winner during her undergraduate (Best student in Media Planning, overall best student in Public Relations and Advertising), Oyesomi, during her NYSC days in Enugu State researched and wrote a book on HIV/AIDS which was circulated round secondary schools in the State. She has written several research papers and a recipient of grant awards through which she has traversed wider terrains in different but related fields of media and gender, development communication, Journalism and Public Relations.

Passionate and energetic in matters of women and children, and community development service, Oyesomi is a member of the International Association for Minority Language Media Research (IAMLMR), African Council for Communication Education (ACCE),  Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), South African Communications Association (SACOMM), Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) among other international bodies and fora, and she  is a reviewer and editorial board member for several local and international journals.

She has also published in several local and international high impact journals. She also has book chapters and one edited book to her credit.

She is also currently the Founder/Editor- in- Chief, Cooperative World, a magazine publication of Covenant University Cooperative Society and the immediate PRO of the society.

–By sdnonline–

The International Press Centre (IPC)  is extremely concerned about latest happenings in the country with respect to the #ENDSARS and #ENDSWAT protests especially the targeting of media institutions and harrassment of journalists.

IPC particularly condemns the Wednesday, October 21, 2020, arson attack on Television Continental (TVC) as well as the molestation of the journalists and other media professionals working in the establishment by a mob.

The organisation equally criticises the assault on some security personnel attached to Channels Television that led to temporary halting of broadcasts by the station.

It also decries the attack on Toyin Yusuf, a journalist with Osun State Broadcasting Corporation and another member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists by some angry youths while covering the protests in the state.

IPC further condemns the prevention of an Arise TV crew from carrying out their legitimate duty at the Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos, by a group of soldiers also today, Wednesday, October 21.

Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, warned that molestation of journalists and other media professionals either by the security agents, mobs or protesters was not acceptable. “The media and journalists have the legitimacy to report the current crisis across the country with a view to bringing truthful account to the citizens and under no circumstances should they be subjected to hardship in the course of doing that. We therefore condemn in totality the various attacks so far recorded and demand that they should stop.”

According to Arogundade, the security agents should instead of firing live bullets at peaceful protesters confront those engaging in arson with a view to bringing them to justice.

He enjoined the security operatives to take necessary actions to ensure a safe environment for journalists and other media professionals to carry out their duties unhindered while enforcing the curfew imposed in Lagos and some other states.

The Executive Director also said it was imperative for journalists covering and reporting the #EndSARS protests and the fall out to stick to the principles of good and conflict sensitive journalism that require balance, shunning of bias, avoidance of hate speech, discipline of verification, fact checking, use of reliable sources, giving voice to victims and the affected, and thorough investigation of claims and counter-claims.

-By sdnonline-
 
On the occasion of the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), the International Press Centre (IPC) is prompting the Nigerian government to recognise the importance of respecting legal and institutional frameworks that guarantee the right to information in the country in line with continental and international standards.

The International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) is celebrated yearly on 28 September as declared by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and adopted by the UN General Assembly.

In a statement to mark the IDUAI day, IPC expressed concern about the state of Access to information in Nigeria despite adopting the national right to information law along with 17 African Union member states. In 2011, the Nigerian Government signed the FOI Bill into law, thereby making Nigeria the ninth country in Africa and among the 127 countries in the world to have passed such a legislation.

IPC’s Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade in the statement, regretted that the FOI Act has not had the desired impact due to the refusal of a number of Ministries, Departments and Agencies to proactively disclose information about their activities while also failing to respond whenever journalists, civil society activists and other Nigerians make FOI Act requests to that effect.

Arogundade said such conducts clearly undermine the provisions of sections (4) and (5) of the FOI Act that public Institutions shall make public records and information more freely available and provide for public access to public records and information. He added that they also constitute a sabotage of the constitution apart from negating the principles of the Open Government Partnership of which Nigeria is a member.

Against the background of the provision of section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution that the press shall monitor governance and hold government accountable, Arogundade said the occasion of the World Access to Information Day should also be used to reiterate the fact that free access to information is a catalyst of press freedom without which good governance would be a mirage.

He said further that Universal ATI is vital to the watchdog role of the media in keeping  the  public  informed, educated and making  the people  know  the  day-to-day  activities  and dealings of those in government whether military or civilian, which further creates a platform  for the citizens to express their concerns to the government. “This process saves lives, builds trust and helps the formulation of sustainable policies,” he stressed.

In relation to violence against journalists and other media professionals. IPC Executive Director noted that such acts constitute threats to freedom of expression in Nigeria.

“This year alone, the IPC has documented at least 40 media attacks and more recently the Nasarawa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), lost one of its members, former treasurer, Benjamin Ekom to an attack and brutal killing by unknown gunmen at his residence in Washo village, Nassarawa-Eggon Local Government Area (LGA), of the state”, he lamented.

He therefore called on the government to ensure protection for journalists and whistleblowers who are dedicated to promoting democracy and social justice.

As for journalists, he said they should keep engaging in investigative journalism, so as to prevent abuse of office.