By Rotimi Ijikanmi, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Charles Darwin, English naturalist and biologist said, “it is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the most responsive to change”.
Although Darwin’s insight relates to his popular theory on evolution by natural selection, however, in our ever changing world, it is also apposite to the subsistence and success of businesses, ideas and even government establishments.
In the 48 years of its existence, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), no doubt, has witnessed series of evolution and its operations and environment have been transformed in response to the changes in the society it serves.
The agency has moved from typewriters to computers; from analogue cameras to digital ones.
NAN has evolved from cyclostyled news bulletin delivered by messengers in motorcycles to specialised news and multimedia services delivered direct to subscribers via satellite ; and from an ill equipped wire service to a modern news agency.
From satellite service, the agency evolved its official portal where subscribers access news and information.
Realising that modern news delivery is becoming virtual, with subscribers wanting information directly on their inbox, NAN is equally leveraging on various social media platforms through a multi media unit in rendering its services
Beyond text only service, the agency equally evolved audio and visual news transmission in English while the latest in its kitty is news rendition in the three major languages – Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo.
It is, however, worthy of note, that the series of evolution above, relate to the primary mandate of NAN, as a national news agency in Africa, which prides itself as always first with the news on Nigeria and beyond.
Therefore, the Oct. 3 debut of an annual international lecture of the agency has been described as novel and a departure from a regimented timely delivery of factual and objective news.
The maiden annual lecture, as innovated by the Malam Ali Mohammed Ali, the new Managing Director of NAN, was organised to ignite international conversations around security in Nigeria and the Sahel region
According to Ali, given its strategic importance in the last 48 years of existence, “NAN, the largest news agency in Africa, must play a pivotal role in giving direction on political, economic and social issues.”
One may be tempted to ask the questions; how does an annual lecture conform with the mandate of a News Agency, and why does it takes almost five decades for it to debut?
The statutory editorial Policy on NAN, partly quoted below provides the answer to the first leg of the question.
“The agency must bring enlightened opinion to bear in discussing national and international issues. It must positively influence public opinion and contribute to the evolution and formulation of correct national policies.
“The Agency is enjoined to promote understanding among the peoples of the ECOWAS sun-region,the AU and the world in general.”
On the delay in the take off, this could be an oversight on the part of past leaderships. However, as the saying goes, “better late than never.”
The inaugural lecture themed: “Insecurity in the Sahel (2008-2024): Dissecting Nigeria’s Challenges – Genesis, Impacts and Options,” was no doubt, apt considering the scale and impacts of insecurity in Nigeria and the Sahel region at large.
With the staggering number of fatalities in the Sahel region due to violent extremism, one cannot agree more on the imperative of the discourse
According to former Head of State, retired Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, the Chairman of the day, in 2020, a whopping 4,660 people were killed in the Sahel region while another 2,660 civilians lost their lives in banditry attacks in 2021.
The General equally noted that Ngeria’s security challenges cannot be divorced from the regional heritage in the Sahel, a vast landmass which encompasses the troubled countries of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Cameroon.
The lecture, therefore, gave the opportunity for the Special Guest of Honour, President Bola Tinubu to highlight the commendable progress in the fight against terrorism, insurgency, banditry and other forms of violent crimes across the country. by the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Tinubu, who was represented by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, reassured Nigerians of government’s commitment to return the country on the path of stability through kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.
“In tackling our security challenges, our administration has adopted a multifaceted approach as enshrined in the renewed hope agenda which prioritised security as a critical component of government focus,” he said.
Tinubu,in his capacity as the Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces, also used the forum to issue stern warning to terrorists and insurgents to surrender or face renewed onslaught of the military.
From the host, the guest lecturer to ministers in attendance, members of diplomatic corps and other distinguished guest who spoke at the event, it was agreed that the insecurity in the Sahel is complex with deep roots in sundry causal factors
The sundry casual factors according to them, included climate change, food insecurity and extremism which have created a ring of violence and instability in the region.
Proffering solution to the challenge, it was agreed at the lecture that insecurity cannot be addressed without looking at the genesis, the root causes, problems and possible solutions.
It was a general consensus that insecurity in the Sahel is fueled, among others, by economic challenges instigated by unfair access to capital and the leadership at all levels, must take necessary steps to bridge the gap.
It was also resolved that multi-dimensional approach beyond military intervention is needed to address insecurity in the Sahel region.
The participants resolved that Issues of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment must be addressed by leadership at all levels to nip insecurity in the bud,
They recommended that in tackling insecurity across the continent, African leaders must priotise targeted developmental projects to alleviate poverty, underdevelopment, unemployment.
Coming back home, the participants resolved that Nigeria’ ssecurity challenges cannot be divorced from its regional heritage in the Sahel, a vast landmass which also traverses the troubled countries of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Cameron .
They agreed that home grown solutions are critical to tackling insecurity in the country.
The media was admonished to curtail negative narratives about insecurity in the country, tell true stories on beauty,, development and achievements of their country.
Nigerians were also charged to speak well of their country, support the agenda and programmes of the leadership.
An icing on the cake was the pledge by the National Assembly to deploy possible legislative machinery in ensuring that the recommendations from the inaugural lecture are not swept under the carpet.
Based upon the results, it can be concluded, therefore, that the inaugural lecture achieved its aim to, among others, interrogate the violence troubling the Sahel and proffer solutions to the problem. (NANFeatures)
**If used, please credit the author and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)