Media
Media stakeholders brainstorm in Dakar against illicit financial flows from Africa

As African countries continue to grapple with the depth of illicit financial flows, IFFs, and with an estimated annual loss of $88 billion, stakeholders have gathered in Dakar, Senegal to address this concern.
It is feared that if the scourge is not tackled, it could derail the continent’s bid to achieve sustainable development goals, SDGs, by the deadline of 2030.
A report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD, the “Economic Development in Africa Report 2020”, notes that the amount is enough to finance almost half the annual financing gap of $200bn that the continent faces to achieve the SDGs.
The UNCTAD’s Secretary-General, Mukhisa Kituyi, stated that IFFS are, “inhibiting African development by draining foreign exchange, reducing domestic resources, stifling trade and macroeconomic stability and worsening poverty and inequality. These illicit flows rob Africa and its people of their prospects, undermining transparency and accountability and eroding trust in African institutions.”
He warned that “faced with high capital flight, tax avoidance and a marked dependence on corporate income taxes, African Governments face significant constraints to widening their tax base.”
Kituyi advised that “African governments need to work diligently alongside all key stakeholders to drive concerted actions to combat the negative impact of illicit financial flows from the continent.
“These efforts must necessarily include strengthening stolen assets recovery and setting new legislations and standards to avoid IFFs. – in concert with Africa’s private sector actors – should take the lead in strengthening stolen assets recovery, setting new standards for avoiding illicit flows and committing to more concerted actions to combat the negative impact of illicit financial flows on African economies.”
To this end, TrustAfrica is seeking to “Strengthening the capacity of African media in the fight against Illicit Financial Flows”.
The Executive Director of TrustAfrica, Dr. Ebrima Sall, in a letter said the workshop is mainly for media practitioners and bloggers drawn primarily from countries in West Africa including Nigeria, Ghana, Mauritania, Gambia and Senegal.
Sall quoting the UNCTAD’s report said that the large financing gap for the SDGs cannot be closed solely through government revenues. But that tackling IFFs will open the door to releasing much needed investments in education, health and productive sectors.
According to Sall, “the debate on IFFs from Africa remains very relevant and has to be kept in the public place.
“It is thus important that those on the forefront of informing the public have conceptual understanding of IFFs and play an important role to remain active in reporting, informing and discussing this pertinent issue.”
The TrustAfrica executive director explained that the core objective of the workshop which commences June 23, 2022 to 24, is “unpack the concept of IFFs and appraise the status of IFFs in Africa identifying; identify priority issues for policy change and advocacy,” as well as “assessing the capacity gaps in media and IFFs coverage.”
The workshop is also expected to “enhance the capacity of media practitioners in understanding the issues of IFFs and reporting on it; create a circle/network of media practitioners specializing on IFFs who could regularly report, inform and editorialize on IFFs and contribute to spurring African governments to increase their efforts to stop IFFs.”
Media
Veteran Broadcaster Reuben Okala is new head of Abuja station of Kaftan TV

Kaftan TV has engaged the professional services of a veteran broadcaster, Reuben Okala, to lead the Abuja office as head of station.
The move by the station is to reposition the quality of news reportage, current affairs and other interesting programs for satisfaction of it’s viewers
Reuben Okala, who is expected to resume with emmidiate effect, is bringing on board his wealth of experience that spans close to thirty years, as a multitasking professional in journalism trenches at Nigeria’s premier television station, the Nigeria Television Authority-NTA.
Chief Executive Officer of Kaftan tv, Waheed Odusule, unveiled the new station helmsman, on Tuesday, at a general meeting with staff of the fast rising television station.
He admonished them to continue to work hard, while promising to look into their welfare and other emoluments. Odusule who said that their is no room for laziness at Kaftan tv, as hard work will be rewarded just as any staff that engages in professional misconduct will be shown the way out.
In his brief remark, representative of the founder of Kaftan tv, who also doubles as it’s consultant, noted that the founder, Prince Adewale Adebayo, places greater premium on professionalism for the overall success of the station, and that was why the decision to bring Reuben Okala becomes more than imperative.
In his bief remark, the new head of Abuja station, Reuben Okala, expressed satisfaction with the facilities he’s seen at the station when he was conducted round on a facility tour.
He urged them to be creative by carving a nitch for themselves, noting that collectively Kaftan tv can be taken to greater hieghts.
The new head of station admonished them to believe in themselves and their creator if they must achieve individual success, promoting that hard work will be rewarded under his watch as head of station in Anuja.
Media
Senate to tell its own story as it births in-house magazine

The Senate has officially unveilled its in-house publication, “10th Senate,” to the public as it expressed the believe that its story can’t be better told by the third party
Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu who unveiled the magazine on the floor of the upper Chamber said the new publication”is an embodiment of the Senate’s commitment to open dialogue and effective communication with Nigerian people within and outside. “Within its pages, you will find a tapestry of stories, insights, and ideas that reflect the rich chronicle of our nation. It will serve as a platform for the Senate to share its legislative achievements, initiatives, and aspirations, while also providing a voice to the diverse voices of our citizenry. ”
“As we embark on this journey together, let us embrace the power of knowledge and dialogue. Let us seize this opportunity to strengthen the bond between the Senate and the people, as we work hand in hand towards a brighter future for our beloved nation. ”
Addressing newsmen shortly after plenary, Senator Adaramodu, who incidentally is the Editor-in-Chief of the magazine said the lawmakers are anxious to drive their own narrative in the public, conscious of the space constraints in the traditional media.
He said:” It will be a quarterly magazine to chronicle activities of the Senate which the traditional media may not give attention.
“Today, at the chamber, the Media Committee birthed a magazine to show the other areas that you our partners haven’t been able to showcase.
“We know that in the newsrooms there are deluge of news items fighting for space. You pick the ones that are immediate. That’s why we come up with this quarterly magazine , Tenth Senate.
Our story can’t be better told by the third party, we want to tell it ourselves
“We want the people of Nigeria to know that we are representing them adequately. We don’t want to restrict ourselves to just the hallowed chamber.”
Asked by journalists, if fund for publication of the magazine would be from public fund appropriated for the National Assembly, Adaramodu clarified that individual lawmakers would finance the publication.
“It is to be financed by Senators, we are contributing to run it to shore up our image, we aren’t going to take money either through Appropriation or other sources.”.
Media
Kogi Governor’s media adviser condemns attack on Akoni TV

The Special Adviser on Media to Kogi State Governor, Ismaila Isah has expressed sympathy with the Chief Executive Officer of an online television channel in the state, Akoni TV, Deborah Agbonika, over the robbery attack and vandalisation of the Online Television Studio in Lokoja.
Some yet to be identified hoodlums were reported to have gained access to the property of Akoni TV by 200 unit housing estate junction in Lokoja on Sunday night, vandalized the studio and carted away equipments worth millions of Naira.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Lokoja, the Special Adviser to Governor Usman Ododo condemned the act describing it as an affront on journalism in the state.
He urged the management of the online TV channel not to be deterred by the incident as it is only a set back which is incapable of retarding its effort to disseminate factual and timely information to its audience and teeming followers within and outside the state
While calling on security agencies to investigate the attack and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice, the Media adviser restated that the administration of Governor Ododo would not condone criminal elements and their nefarious activities especially where it tramples on the symbol of freedom of expression any where in the state.
Ismaila assured that the organization would be given needed support to ameliorate immediate challenges faced as a result of the robbery and damage to its facilities.
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