MD calls for synergy among NAN departments to achieve results

Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has called for synergy among departments in the agency toward achieving its mandate.

Ali said this on Monday at the Valedictory Editorial Management session for Malam Ahmed Maharazu, the Deputy Editor-In-Chief (Defence & Security), who retired from service after attaining 60 years of age.

Ali said that the agency’s marketing and editorial departments must collaborate to achieve the desired result.

“Staff members from all departments in the agency are not competitors, they need to work together and not at cross purpose,” he said.

Ali commended the editorial staff, particularly news controllers, saying that the department must work harder to deliver on its mandate.

He, however, added that being a controller or an editor was not about being nice, but about doing things right in terms of pushing out quality and error-free copies.

Ali noted that the agency had enormous challenges, but declared that he would not be daunted.

“I will keep working to overcome such challenges,” he said.

He lauded the retiring Deputy Editor-In-Chief for his dedication to duty.

“I have known Maharazu over the years; I can say that he stands out as a good journalist; we have immensely benefited from his experiences, reach and contacts.

“He has, indeed, made his mark in the agency and I see him working with his shoulders high as he leaves,” he said.

He added that Maharazu had been instrumental to a number of successes in the agency’s editorial operations, but regretted that he was leaving at the middle of doing something instrumental and revolutionary.

“Congratulations as you retire, may the next chapter of your life be as exciting and as rewarding,” the NAN MD said.

Ali urged other members of staff to emulate Maharazu’s humility, dedication to duty and leadership qualities.

Mr Ephraim Sheyin, the agency’s Editor-in-Chief, congratulated Maharazu and thanked God for his life, saying his humility, simplicity and dedication to duty was commendable.

Others who spoke included Francis Onyeukwu and Gregory Maduakolam, who poured encomiums on the retiring deputy EIC, describing him as a thorough-bred professional, complete gentleman, humble, and a great mentor and news controller.

“He is simple, gentle, trustworthy and very reliable. We will miss him, I wish him well and the very best in retirement,” Hajiya Hadiza Aliyu, Head of the agency’s Health Desk, said.

Mrs Deborah Coker, who worked directly with Maharazu on the agency’s Defense Desk which he headed, wished him a blessed retirement, saying that working with him made her a better person.

“You are such a good person, I will miss you, I wish you good open doors and pray that God will grant all your heart desires as you retire ,” Mrs Ekemini Ladejobi, Head of the agency’s Entertainment Desk told the retiring colleague.