By Abiola Ayankunbi
Contributing Editor
On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) held its 2020 Annual General Meeting. It took place at NPAN’s Secretariat Maryland Lagos State. It must be stated that the attendance was very poor.
Publications of some members that emerged as executives are either “on or off” the newsstands or completely defunct.
Also, the association is meant for the “newspapers’ owners” but some who are not the “actual proprietors” are now executive members.
At the end of the election, officials who will run the affairs of the association emerged. They are as follows:
1. Kabiru Yusuf, Chairman of Media Trust- President
2. Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru, The Publisher of Guardian newspaper- Deputy President
3. Mohammed Idris, The Publisher of BluePrint newspaper- General Secretary
4. Walter Edun, The Publisher of The Nation Newspaper- Treasurer.
5. Dr. Mrs.Mwadiuto Iheakanwa of the Champions newspaper-Publicity Secretary.
6. Fidelis Anosike, Managing Director of Daily Times- Assistant Secretary.
7. Prince Dannis Sami, Publisher of The Pilot- ex- officio
8. Sam Nda-Isaiah, Publisher of Leadership newspaper- ex- officio
9. Ray Ekpu, a past president of the association- ex-officio.
10. Nduka Obaigbena, Publisher of ThisDay newspaper- Life patron.
Meanwhile, the emergence of new executive members have revealed new thing in the association. Firstly, the publicity secretary worked in the defunct Champion Newspapers; on what ground was she elected when the newspaper she represents has not been on the newsstands for a very long time? And owing its workers.
Secondly, position of a life patron has been introduced. It is to be occupied by Nduka Obaigbena, the immediate past NPAN’s President.
It seems that there is a gentleman agreement among the members that the president should be rotated between “North and South”. Nduka Obaigbena, the immediate past president is from the South while Kabiru Yusuf, the newly elected president is from the North.
Another revelation is that Walter Edun and not Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the Publisher of The Nation newspapers. If not why is Edun representing Nation and even made an excutive?
It seems the association is towing the line of Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) where all former editors are seen as members of the Guild instead of being accorded membership of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
It must be recalled that Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) is a forum where all the proprietors of newspapers’ companies in Nigeria, meet regularly to discuss the welfare of the members.
NPAN is a private, voluntary, not-for-profit, not-for-loss, non-governmental organization based in Lagos state with members in nearly all the 36 states (and Abuja) of Nigeria.
The NPAN was founded on the 16th of December, 1962 at the office of the West Africa Pilot, Yaba, Lagos state.
The foundation members were African Challenge, Daily Express, Daily Times, Drum Magazine, Nigerian Tribune, Nigerian Magazine, Morning Post and West African Pilot. Membership was on a corporate basis and exclusively meant for the owners; not Managing Directors, Editor-in-Chiefs, Editors, etc.
…Ayankunbi is MD/CEO at AbingMO3 Marketing Management Consultancy.
0802 305 1315
abiolaayankunbi@yahoo.com
