OUR FATHER by Don Moen, Lovely song

OUR FATHER by Don Moen

Skysat, offers new printing product

June 13

Skysat Technologies Limited, in conjunction with KIS Photo-Me Group, one of the leading global photo printing machine manufacturers, has launched the new DKS Wet Minilab Generation 4 into the Nigerian market.

  The new photo printing machine produces formats up to 12” x 18” or 12” x 36”, prints in HD quality and features perfectly an exclusive automated enhancement technology for digital pictures.

  Some of the features and specifications of the new machine include compact design, new version of eye-tech digital science operating software and optional film scanner. Others include 340dpi resolution, 800 prints per hour and internal 500GB archiving capacity (equivalent of 250,000 photos).

  Speaking in Lagos during an interactive session with key photo printing dealers drawn from both Nigeria and Benin Republic, the International Sales Manager, KIS Photo-Me Group, Mr. Pierre Buendia, said that the need to match consumers’ dynamic expectations was responsible for the new product that was launched last year in France.

  “Photo-Me recognises that today’s consumers were expecting more from their photos and that was why the new DKS4 delivers a full range of high value-added services, in a simple operation. The machine, which is a new generation of professional wet digital minilabs, is fully compatible with the Photo-Me Photobook Builder,” he said.

  Buendia further said that consumers and photo equipment entrepreneurs could take full advantage of the machine to print photobooks, greeting cards, frames and collage prints, among others.

  Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director, Skysat Technologies, Mr. Izzat Debs, said that his company as the authorised distributor of KIS Photo-Me Group in Nigeria and West Africa, was glad to partner with the France-based company to bring modern photographic solutions to the door step of Nigerians through innovative products.

  “Skysat is in the forefront of a revolution in the photo printing business in Nigeria. We have sold close to 100 KIS printing machines in Nigeria and we have helped various enterpreneurs set up about 170 photo labs across the country. We are happy to partner with KIS once again as they introduce this new product into the Nigerian market. We have no doubt that it will bring great benefit to both consumers and investors.

  “As you might have discovered during Mr. Pierre Buendia’s presentation, the future is already here, particularly with the incredible features and benefits that could be gained with the new machine. I enjoin you all to take advantage of it,” he said.

  Debs further assured the dealers that his company would provide the needed after-sales support, adding that the technical staff had been well trained to handle every installation and maintenance issue.

In Lagos, US embassy tasks media on FoI Act

JUNE 11

AS part of efforts to ensure effective use of the Freedom of Information Act, the United State Consulate General, Lagos Office last week organized Digital Video Conference (DVC) featuring Ms. Elizabeth Bryant as guest speaker. 

  Bryant, a Paris-based journalist with over 15 years on the job, stated that making document and information easily available by government is usually not the norm anywhere, saying that journalists who seek government documents to buttress their reports must push and push, demand and demand to get the document.

   Citing two examples in using the Freedom of Information Act in the United States, one, her personal experience and the other by a team of journalists, Bryant disclosed that while it took her a whole year to get document on doctors who indulged in taking hard drugs, it took the other group of journalists, 15 years to get the document they sought from government. 

  She said that the journalist who started the process had left the New York Times when the document sought was got in January 2012.

   She implored media houses that want to constantly have investigative reports in their publication to have a dedicated team of investigative reporters, whose main responsibility is to do investigative stories, with less pressure of deadlines.

  According to her, state correspondents are likely not going to be doing investigative stories because they have to report many issues and cover several beats.

   To her, it must however be made clear that the FOI Act is for all the citizens and not journalists alone while the government must understand that the citizens are the boss and information must be made available to them. She also said that because it is the right of the citizens to know what those elected were doing; the government must provide them with information when they demand such.

  She enjoined journalists to cultivate the habit of having sources who provide information though having government documents is a powerful weapon in times of litigation. She however said that reporters must be careful with information provided by sources because must sources have agenda when they provide information whether solicited or otherwise. 

  And to ensure a better understanding of the Act by the public, which would promote good usage of the Law, she suggested collaborative efforts between the government, its agencies and civil societies in organising enlightenment programmes.

Participants at the media chat

  

She also gave an insight into the operational mode in United States, where the federating units had to come up with their own version of the Law. In Nigeria, there has been argument whether the states should wholly adopt the Law enacted by the federal government or each of the 36 states should come up with a version of its own Freedom of Information Act.

   In summing up, the coordinator of the programme at the Lagos end, Mr. Femi Omowunmi, after the presentation by Bryant and the question-and- answer session, said that the United State Consulate in Nigeria is always ready to work with journalists and media related organisations to promote better understanding of the content of the Law and its usage.

At APCON, dedication to service is rewarding

Registrar of APCON, Alh. Garba Bello Kankarofi (right); past Council Chairman, Chief Olu Falomo and present Council Chairman, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi at the event

egistrar of APCON, Alh. Garba Bello Kankarofi (right); past Council Chairman, May Nzeribe and present Council Chairman, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi at the even

June 11

THE Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) last Wednesday, honoured some of its workers and people who have served the industry for over a decade. Also honoured are founding fathers of the Nigeria advertising industry.   

 The event, which held at the Media Center of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) was attended by council members, staff of APCON, some past Registrars and Chairmen.

  Founding fathers honoured are Ifeanyichukwu Moemeka, Chief Olu Falomo, Dr. May Nzeribe, Chris Doghudje, Prof Charles Okigbo, Josef Bel-Molokwu and Chief Sylvester Nwobu-Alor. 

  Staffs awarded are Deputy Director, Human Resources management, Mrs. Bimbola Ipaye and Chief Regulation, monitoring and enforcement officer, Mrs. Ijedi Iyoha, both have put in 20 years in service. Administrative Officer 1, Mrs. Juliana Chima; Head driver, Oladipo Olanrewaju and Chief Clerical Officer, Allwell Nwuzor, all have put in 15 years.

  Other awardees who have put in 10 year each are Asst. Chief inspectorate Officer, Emme Akande; Credit Control officer, Sikiru Adesina; Secretaries 1, Agatha Okonkwo and Deborah Eneanya; Asst. Executive Officer, Archibong Bassey Itomo; Chief Cleaners, Adamu Abubakar and Mohammed Useni.  

  The chairman of the event, past Council Chairman, Chief Olu Falomo, expressed joy at the occasion and advised the awardees to see the award as a blessing from God and put in more effort in ensuring that APCON is given a brighter image across Nigeria and the world at large.

  “You have performed much more than we do, over the years you have managed experience and become what you are. APCON is one of the best establishments you can work with that adds values to service. Continue to put in your best and improve on the platform which many of us have laboured for.”

  Adding, he said, “we have a long way to go and APCON will continue to grow from strength to strength” 

   The present Council Chairman, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, congratulated the awardees and urged them to continue to lift APCON through their dedication and commitment to service.

  He also congratulated the past chairmen of the Council and registrars whom he described as role models in the industry.

  The Registrar of APCON, Alh. Garba Bello Kankarofi, urged awardees to continue working for APCON, as it is the best place to be.

Foundation plans Avoidable Blunder to save sight

Mission To Save Sight Africa Foundation, a non-governmental organisation has planned a movie project titled Avoidable Blunder as a tool to reach out to Africans on certain major causes of avoidable blindness and visual impairments, namely cataract glaucoma, childhood blindness, trachoma, onchocerchissis and refractive errors.

  The movie, which will be premiered across Africa with actors and actresses from across cultural backgrounds, will focus on corrective reformation since blindness as a health issue has been with humanity for a long time.

  Speaking on the project in Lagos, the founder of the organisation, Dr (Mrs.) Oluwafunmike Ani, said with this educational-must watch movie, the right to Sight Initiative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness have taken a giant leap.

  According to her, since blindness is often not a direct cause of death, generations have down-played its significance hence it has been successfully pushed to the back burner of disease control for such a long time.

  Dr. Ani, who expressed worries over the high rate of blindness in the African continent, said the multi-million naira film project, which comes on stream in three months’ time, will remove ignorance, promote, educate and inform the African masses about blindness as well as encourage industry, creativity and research activities on blindness.

  To ensure the realisation of the film’s objective, she said the foundation has enlisted Meljenstin Nigeria Limited, a renowned Public Relations Consultants, to help recruit a reputable film producer, director, and A-rated African artists, as well as strategic communication and attract brand values for the project.

  The director of the movie project, Mr Okechukwu Ifeanyi, who has more than 50 films to his credit remarked the film will be subtitled in different African languages to engender greater appeal as well as feature some notable African actors and actresses. He said the film would be produced by one of the nation’s experienced producers, Mr. Steve Eboh.

  Managing Director and CEO of Meljenstin, Mrs. Chibuzor Patrick, called on corporate bodies to utilise the opportunity of the film to brand themselves with the project and expose the careless ways Africans treat their eyes, the consequences and solutions.

  She assured that corporate bodies would certainly benefit with the highest level of branding visibility for participating on the laudable project.

Nigeria International Book Fair… boosting the book trade, improving reading culture

"
There is something about the atmosphere when you enter into a bookshop
that encourages you to want to buy and read books, but today the
reverse is the case. Some parents spend lots of money buying movies
than buying books.Once they hear about the latest movie in town, they
will rush to get that movie. Such attention is not being focused on
books. The only books these children see are the textbooks they use in
school. So, how are they going to improve their reading habits?"


EMPOWERING the people through promotion of reading culture and
providing books and other instructional materials for better education
and self-improvement have been at the core of activities of the
Nigeria Book Fair Trust, organiser sof the yearly Nigeria
International Book Fair (NIBF).
Theme of this year’s edition of the fair, The State of
Infrastructural Development in Africa And the Future of the Book
Trade, is designed to further achieve the fair’s objectives.
  At a press briefing recently to announce this year’s fair usually
held at the Multi-purpose Hall of the University of Lagos, Akoka,
Lagos, organisers announced Monday, May 7 through 12, as date for the
weeklong book trade. Apart from providing an exciting opportunity for
tapping from the large Nigerian market, past editions of the fair show
that it is the best venue to find the latest releases in all subjects,
ranging from literature to business and economics, education, and many
others.
   Chairman of NIBF and Managing Director of Ibadan-based University
Press Plc, Mr. Samuel Kolawole, stated that the number of both
exhibitors and visitors has gradually increased over the years, and
tasked book dealers not to miss out on the opportunity to gain
competitive edge. Kolawole added that a lot of programmes has been
lined up during the fair to make it truly stimulating.
  On the yearly international conference to brainstorm on issues in
the book trade, Kolawole stated that stakeholders in the book industry
would be brought together to rub minds on topical issues that bother
on the stability of the industry. “Other crucial issues that threaten
the growth of book industry in Africa will also be discussed during
the fair,” he said.
  The book fair, which is the 11th in the series, will have
participants from countries such as United States of America, United
Kingdom, Turkey, United Arab Emirate, India, Senegal, Cameroon,
Zimbabwe, Botswana, Ghana, among others, said  Kolawole. He reiterated
that there would be buyers and sellers meeting to provide opportunity
for people in the book trade from within and outside the country to
network and do business.
   This year’s fair is in conjunction with African Publishers Network.
Another feature of the fair will be a media workshop to be organised
by Afro-Asian Book Council, together with the sponsorship of
children’s programme, which has also increased.

THE focus of the fair is on the level of infrastructure that Africa
has and how it affects the book trade in the country, especially given
that the world is now a global village, as it relates to books going
into digital format, and even online publishing.
  He argued, “If you want to take advantage of that which you have,
you must look at your infrastructure; what access do we have in
Nigeria? What of the issue of electricity? We are not only looking at
Nigeria, but Africa in particular and see what the state of
infrastructure is so that we can see how to benefit from developments
in the developed world in terms of book trade itself.
  “People would say you cannot look at America and follow them, but
whatever happens there happens in Nigeria. The only way we can move
forward is by accessing the facilities that are on ground in the
country so that we can determine how government can come in and
improve and move the book trade in Africa forward”
  According to Kolawole, NIBF also prides itself as a cultural event
serving to project the country’s literary culture to the wider world
and helping to generate foreign direct investments. The numerous
visitors and participants at the book fair are all considered
potential tourists and investors, but Kolawole said in as much as the
fair attracts foreigners into the country, it was yet to rub off on
local publishers and publishing.
  He noted, “There are a lot of things government can do. They should
have policy on education just like what NIBF is doing; nobody is
monitoring anything. There are more private initiatives than
government policies. For instance, in the tertiary area where there is
high level of publishing activities in the country, if you want to
encourage publishers in the university, you cannot use books without
Nigerians participating. Then, if publishers from outside the country
come and bring books, you can get a lecturer in the country who will
look at the books and domesticate them for Nigeria. Besides, Nigerian
publishers have to be involved, including booksellers and agents. If
that is in place it will improve local publishers. We do not seem to
be bothered about what is going on; that is why they can sit down
abroad and keep sending things to us here”.
   Kolawole urged government to setup a National Book Commission in
the country, stressing that once that is  done, it would go a long way
in developing the book sector. He argued, “When there is a National
Book Commission, there will be development in the sector. The
commission will be concerned with issues relating to books ranging
from authorship, publishing, book selling, and editing among others …”
.


WHEN the Nigeria International Book Fair opens, it will also provide
opportunity for children to see all kinds of books. According to
Kolawole, there is no better opportunity for children to see a large
collection of books in the country today than at the book fair.
  He noted, “In the past when the book trade was well-structured in
Nigeria, parents took their children to bookshops; they had the
benefit of entering a bookshop and seeing an array of books, but now
the children do not know if bookshops exist anymore because the books
are brought to their schools.
  “That is a major problem we are facing in this country. When one is
talking about reading culture, once one gets to the bookshop, one will
even buy more than the books he is looking for. There is something
about the atmosphere when you enter into a bookshop that encourages
you to want to buy and read books, but today the reverse is the case.
Some parents do not even bother; they spend lots of money buying
movies than buying books.
  “Once they hear about the latest movie in town, they will rush to
get that movie. Such attention is not being focused on books. The only
books these children see are the textbooks they use in school. So, how
are they going to improve their reading habits? The book fair is
creating that opportunity for children to come around and see
different kinds of book, ranging from literature books, fiction and
non-fiction books. There is no way a child will come to the book fair
and not be impacted upon positively”.