Nigerian High Commission in Ghana pledges support to Nigerian journalists

Executives of the Nigerian Media Association in Ghana (NMAG), the umbrella association responsible for media practitioners in Ghana paid a courtesy call to the new High Commissioner to Ghana, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd) on Tuesday, October 12, 2021.

The visit, which is the first by the association since Ambassador Ibas assumed his new role at the commission, was meant to officially welcome and introduce him to the operations of the association. He was joined by the Deputy High Commissioner, Gambo Yusuf Hamza, and other senior officials of the commission.

Prior to this meeting, Ambassador Ibas had hosted various Nigerian groups including the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), All Nigerian Community (ANC), and Nigeria Traders Union.

Public Relations Officer of the All Nigeria Community (ANC), Chief Akintola Bolanle who is also serving as the President of the Nigerian Media Association Ghana (NMAG) led an entourage of media practitioners from several distinguished local and international media organizations represented in Ghana.

Omobolanle Precious, on-air-personality and radio host on Accra based Ahotor Fm; Khaliq Ademola Amao, Voice of Nigeria correspondent; veteran journalist Martin Luther King; Novieku Babatunde Adeola Kehinde, Editor of MyNigeria.com; Raymond Bash, presenter at Hausa television and veteran journalist Joseph Ojumo, represented the association in the closed-door meeting.

The issues discussed include creating a conducive environment to ensure Nigerian media in Ghana is effective, rekindling the existing rapport that characterized previous administrations and the association, tackling head-on the challenges that affect the association amongst others.

Ambassador Ibas vowed to help NMAG in any way possible as he spoke about the possibility of a decent relationship between both institutions. He said the importance of the media cannot be understated highlighting the sensitive times the country currently exists in.

He charged the media practitioners present to be balanced in their reportage as they have what it takes to shape the minds of readers. He also approved the possibility of creating a stakeholder forum and brainstorming session on issues concerning the welfare of Nigerians in Ghana.

Chief Akintola who spoke on behalf of NMAG thanked the commission for its usual support even at short notice. He said the invitation by the embassy was a sign of many good things to come. He opined that despite being in existence for more than 15 years, the association remains ever ready to lend its voice and play its role in ensuring Nigerians get a balanced reportage on issues.