Trending News
Promasidor Re-iterates Commitment To Partnership With Thomson Foundation On Media Training
Promasidor Nigeria Limited has re-iterated its commitment to partner with one of the world’s longest established international media development organisation, Thomson Foundation, for media training. The company described the media as a very important platform for dissemination of information to different target audiences.
Following presentation of awards to winners in this year’s Promasidor Quill Awards for journalists, the company promised that the overall winner, Kunle Falayi, will be sent to the London-Based Thomson Foundation for training on multi-media journalism.
Mr. Olivier Thiry, Managing Director, Promasidor Nigeria who made the assertion said the decision hinged on the premise that the news media constitute an important sector in any economy whether developed or developing.
According to him, the media can help disseminate specific messages to the target audience for optimum results as they provide publicity and exposure for not only news, announcement, event or request – but for group or organisation as well.
For this, Thiry stated that Promasidor is committed to its partnership with Thomson Foundation as he disclosed that Falayi will this August in London join journalists from other countries for training by the Foundation.
The Managing Director explained that gaining coverage in the news media by either any group or institution gives credibility as it has a lot to do with the thought processes of the public which monitor and “consume” the media each day.
He stated that one of the most significant powers the media has is that of being able to shape opinions; pointing out that every organisation should actively seek out positive publicity through positive media coverage. However, he stated: “every group should also remember that any positive opinions generated from positive media coverage can be blunted or reversed by negative opinions generated through negative media coverage.”
Thiry therefore said the determination to sustain the high standard of media practice in Nigeria formed the basis upon which the overall winner in the Promasidor Quill Awards for journalists is being sent to the Thomson Foundation for training.
Already, the overall winner, Kunle Falayi, has started preparations for his four-week multi-media journalism training course with the Foundation in the United Kingdom.
Following his emergence as the journalist with the best entry in this year’s Promasidor Quill Awards, the promoters of the annual awards, Promasidor furnished Thomson Foundation with Falayi’s details so that preparations could be made for his entry visa to Britain.
Speaking in an interview in Lagos, Falayi disclosed that his application for visa has been submitted with the British High Commission and expects that within two weeks time, his visa would be ready.
He also said that his employers have been so supportive to him, as arrangements are being made to grant him leave of absence for the period of his foreign training coming up in August this year. Falayi said he was mentally, and psychologically ready for the trip as he promised to represent Nigeria well.
On its website, Thomson Foundation confirmed that arrangements have been made to welcome Falayi to the training programme in London. The Foundation stated: “Kunle will attend the four-week multi-media journalism training course with the Thomson Foundation as part of his prize, followed by a week-long placement with a prominent London-based news organisation.”
On how he felt with the honour bestowed on him, Falayi said he was overwhelmed with joy because he did not expect that kind of achievement to come at the early stage of his journalism career. However, he described the awards as a call for him to do more in terms of creative writing that will positively impact on the Nigerian society.
His words: “The kind of publicity I have received has shown that the responsibility I am saddled with is bigger than me. What happened on May 24, 2014 (the day the award was given) was the biggest thing that has ever happened to me. With several other journalists present at the awards presentation, the table turned in my favour, even when I did not expect it.”
According to him, the awards have changed his orientation and focus; as he now realizes that any report he is working on must have the power to positively impact on the society. He said: “I now realize there are people who monitor what we write about and the impact it has on the welfare of the populace.”
Falayi said he felt fulfilled with himself for joining the print media three years ago. Although he started his journalism career with Unique FM in Ilesha, Osun State, as Duty Continuity Announcer and News Caster; he moved to Punch Nigeria from there. On why he moved from broadcasting to print journalism, Falayi said he was looking for something more challenging and impactful. With print journalism, he stated, his impact is more felt by the people through his reports.
However, he acknowledged, there was a time a report put him in the eye of the storm as the Nigeria Police started looking for him over the killing of a man in Police custody. The threats against his life notwithstanding, as long as the reports are live-impacting.
Aside winning the overall award, Falayi also clinched two other awards at the category level of the Quill Awards, thereby making a total of three honours he smiled home with. His entry for the Best Report on Education: Lagos school where pupils sit on bare floor, was adjudged the best and therefore earned him the award for that category. Falayi also paired with Isioma Madike of New Telegraph to jointly win the Best Report on Children award.
Promasidor was founded in 1979 by Robert Rose, who left the United Kingdom in 1957 for Zimbabwe to pursue his African dream. As Chairman of Allied Lyons Africa for over 20 years, he travelled extensively across Africa and gained a unique and thorough knowledge of the food industry throughout the continent. In particular, he noticed a lack of availability of the one highly nutritious product that the developed world takes for granted – milk.
He realised that with technology in the manufacture of milk powders advancing rapidly, there was an exciting opportunity to provide milk powder in small portions that could be packaged in flexible sachets. It was found that removing the animal fat from the milk and replacing it with vegetable fat allowed for a longer shelf life. This meant that for the first time, milk powder could be distributed across the vast African continent, providing access to affordable milk to everyone in Africa.
A passionate belief in this vision fuelled the pioneering concept of selling filled milk powder in small sachets and Promasidor began selling the Cowbell brand in the Democratic Republic of Congo (then Zaire) in 1979. Today Cowbell is sold in the majority of countries across the African continent.
The Thomson Foundation is the world’s longest established international media development organisation, with more than 50 years dedicated to training journalists in ethical standards and quality reporting.
It works with media organisations, governments, civil society bodies and commercial entities wishing to sponsor professional excellence in communications. Based in the UK, It has worked in more than 150 countries around the world.
The Foundation’s founder, the Canadian-born media magnate, Roy Thomson, believed totally in the power of mass media to drive positive change in society. The philosophy evolved from his international post-war media empire. In 1962, it became the cornerstone of the charitable foundation he set up to champion free, fair and open media in the developing world.
Publisher,
Lagos Post Online,
Lagos Post is an online publication that seeks to provide fair, unbiased, credible, balanced and useful information about Corporate Organisations, Governments and the General Public by breaking news in Business, Politics, Arts, Entertainment, Culture, and Sports in Nigeria, Africa and the World. As a global news portal, we continually stand for responsible journalism and sound media practice.
Mobile: +238025837037
Email: lagospostng@gmail.com
