The management of Kingdom Media Network Int’l Nigeria Limited, publisher of TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) has announced the appointment of Ediri Oyibo and Adebayo Animasaun as the Editor and Deputy Editor of TNG respectively.
The management made this known in a statement released on Wednesday by the Publisher of TNG, Mideno Bayagbon.
Oyibo, a member of the founding staff of TNG in September 2016, rose from the position of Tech Reporter to Niger Delta Editor and Deputy Editor. He became Acting Editor of the platform in January.
Skilled in multimedia journalism, Oyibo holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics from Delta State University (DELSU) and a Master’s Degree also in Linguistics from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
A digital media strategist abreast with SEO and web analytics, who also holds a Diploma in Computer Desktop Publishing, the new TNG Editor has worked in a multidisciplinary team of content creators, web designers and marketing executives.
He brings to the role adept skills in digital storytelling, a demonstrated history of providing solutions in digital journalism, proven experience in digital content development, editing and a special interest in fact check; data, solutions and investigative journalism.
Oyibo also oversees the not-for-profit arm of TNG, the TNG Centre for Investigative Journalism (TNGCIJ) as the Program Director.
Commenting on his appointment in the statement, Bayagbon described the Editor as a very intelligent new media journalist and a smart investigator with an incredible eye for news.
“His experience in new media journalism has given him vast experience of the media landscape of Nigeria, and indeed the West Africa region and Africa in general. He has a good global perspective of news as well.
“Oyibo’s growth within the period of joining TNG has been particularly impressive. He has an enormously promising career ahead of him, and TNG is keen to be part of it.
“Above all, we expect that he will be able to build on the relationships TNG has grown with clients and partners and also with team members and take the organization to a whole new level,” he said.
Bayagbon further stated that TNG would continue to relentlessly pursue its mission of retaining its status as Nigeria’s first comprehensive, real online news platform. He added that TNGCIJ will continue to hold the government at all levels accountable through quality investigative reports.
Animasaun, a former broadcast journalist at RayPower 100.5 FM, who joined the platform as a Sports Editor was appointed as Deputy Editor of TNG.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication from Lagos State University (LASU) and has grown into a fine new media journalist with expertise in developing, producing and managing high-quality news items.
Animasaun serves in editing, proofreading and suggesting improvements to written content and ensuring compliance with copyright and privacy regulations.
Both Oyibo and Animasaun will work under the tutelage of renowned scholar and media guru, Dr Chidi Amuta, along with Professors Charles Okigbo, Muhammed Musa, and Ladi Sandra Adamu, who are among 10 eminent Nigerians who have joined the TNG Board.
The United Kingdom-based erudite scholar and entrepreneur, Dr Alim Abubakre; the suave Matt Aikhionbare, who was private secretary to Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, who was also a Secretary to the Government of Edo state under Chief Lucky Igbinedion, are among members of TNG Board.
Others include top-notch Dublin, Ireland-based legal practitioner, Waheed Mudah, who brings his wealth of legal knowledge to the Board as Secretary while Mrs Judith Ufford and Cordelia Onu, two of the most decorated female journalists in Nigeria bring their diverse experiences.
Judith, who is a keen activist on Human and Gender Rights, Reproductive Health and Rights, etc., meanwhile brings her expertise for advocacy, networking, training, investigation and reporting to the Board.
Mrs Cordelia Onu, on the other hand, is a trainer in media usage and mass mobilisation techniques. She is a permanent fellow of the World Press Institute and a visiting Media Fellow at Dewitt Wallace Centre for Communication and Journalism.
The Board is chaired by Dr Chidi Amuta a well-known author, academic, celebrated columnist and media mogul. He is a visiting Fellow at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Boston and at Cambridge University. He is one of Nigeria’s most respected public intellectuals and media commentators. He combines an active media career with engagement in serious scholarship while also running the multi-billion naira firm: Wilson & Weizmann Associates.
Professor Sandra Ladi Adamu is the first professor of broadcasting in Northern Nigeria and is currently a lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University. She was at various times Deputy Editor of the Democrat newspapers and News Editor at NTA Jos.
Dr Abubakre who is also on the advisory board of the London Business School Africa Club is the founder and non-executive chair of These Executive Minds (TEXEM), which has trained thousands of A-List Nigerians in some of the world’s leading and best universities.
Professor Charles Okigbo is a Professor of Professors with wide academic belts across the globe before becoming a Professor Emeritus of Strategic Communication at North Dakota University. He was a former Registrar of APCON and Coordinator of ACCE.
Professor Muhammed Musa is a Professor of Communication at the Department of Media and Creative Industries, United Arab Emirates University, Dubai. He is a serially published author whose teaching and research interests are in the political economy of the media, journalism studies, new media and social change.
Other members of the Board include former acting Editor of Guardian, Mr Jewell Dafinone, who serves as the Group Managing Editor of TNG and Mideno Bayagbon, Publisher of TNG and TNGCIJ.
Meanwhile, Emma Ovuakporie, TNG’s Regional Editor, Abuja/Northern Nigeria, has the additional responsibilities of leading TNG Events. In this role, Mr Ovuakporie leads TNG in organising cutting-edge public discourse that aids the growth of industries, and governance and delivers networking opportunities to the platform.
Other members of the editorial team of TNG include Paul Utebor, Bartholomew Madukwe and Abimbola Fabunmi.