The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has concluded arrangements to hold its biennial convention at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State in Ikeja, Lagos from April 28 to 30, 2017.
Chairman, Daily Trust Newspapers Limited, Malam Kabiru Yusuf, will chair the convention with the theme: “A Nation in Recession: Whither the Nigerian Media?”
Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who is the chief host, is billed to deliver an address and declare the convention open. A quintessential communication expert and political lobbyist, Mr. Emma Agu, will present a paper on the theme of the convention.
The biennial convention, one of the largest gatherings of Nigerian editors brings together over 300 editors and other media professionals. The forum will produce a new executive, led by a new president to oversee the affairs of the guild in the next two years.
The tenure of the current executive, led by Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of New Telegraph newspapers, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, began with Mr. Femi Adesina in 2015 and was truncated when he was appointed special adviser to President Muhammad Buhari, a few weeks after election.
Adesina handed over to Malam Garba Deen Muhammad who was the deputy president, and his position was ratified during the 11th All Nigerian Editors’ Conference (ANEC) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
A few months after the mantle of leadership changed hands, Malam Muhammad was appointed Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC.
Again, power shifted to Mrs. Egbemode who was then the vice-president (west), and her new position was ratified during the 12th ANEC in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, in 2016.
To facilitate the election process, the guild has appointed a highly respected veteran journalist and author, Mr. Ray Ekpu, as the chairman of a five-member electoral committee to conduct the process. He is to be supported by other top-notch journalists of proven integrity.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, is expected to address the editors who will converge on Lagos to be part of the historic event.
As part of activities lined up for the convention, officials of Trust Fund Pensions Limited will make a 10-minute presentation during the business session on April 29. The topic is: “Pension Fund for Editors: Managing your Tomorrow Today”.
A gala night/dinner will hold in the evening of Saturday, April 29 at 7:00pm during which new members of the guild will be inducted. Delegates are expected to depart on Sunday, April 30, 2017.
