Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari are to inaugurate the “Witness Newspaper’’ in Lagos on October 24, 2021.
The newspaper both in digital and print formats, is scheduled to take place at the prestigious Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Witness, founded in October 2017, has the mission of serving its readers accurate and reliable information without bias, about happenings within the nation and abroad.
An NGO – the Witness Newspaper Foundation — is also being launched in commemoration of the 4th anniversary of the newspaper established by a distinguished journalist, Mr Julius Akpovire-Enyeh, who doubles as the Managing Director.
A statement on Monday by Akpovire-Enyeh, said the foundation which is the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of newspaper, will focus on enhancing the education, health and empowerment of the less-privileged and vulnerable children, youths, widows and the aged in the society.
“Today, there are many children and youths who have dropped out of school due to lack of adequate support; there are a lot of less-privileged widows and the aged who are yearning for help.
“As a responsible organization, we aim to ameliorate the pains of these individuals and in turn contribute to nation building.
“The underprivileged widows and their vulnerable children constitute a significant component of every country’s population. Available statistics show that Nigeria has over eight million disadvantaged widows with over 21 million children. Many are stigmatized and blamed for their husband’s death and displaced from their marital homes.
“The aged constitute 5.2 per cent of Nigeria’s population and the figure is expected to hit 6 per cent by 2025. But it’s sad that in 61 years of independence from colonial administration, Nigeria is yet to enact a national policy on the care and welfare of older persons.
“The rate at which the elderly are dying in the society as a result of inadequate healthcare and poverty is alarming and embarrassing to the country.
“The foundation will also tackle poverty and empower less-privileged youths. Although Nigeria is Africa’s biggest oil exporter with the largest natural gas reserves on the continent, it was reported by the National Bureau of Statistics in 2019 to have 83 million people living below the nation’s poverty line.
“Still, unemployment and underemployment are on the increase,’’ the CEO said in the statement, a copy of which was given to Persecondnews.
The immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan will preside at the occasion as the chairman while other dignitaries including the
Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, Mr Patrick Akinwuntan, Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria Limited and Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General/CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) are expected at the event.
Others are Dr Adaeze Udensi, Executive Director, Titan Trust Bank Ltd and Dr Victor Adoji, a former senatorial candidate and chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
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