NAN suspends 40th anniversary party
By Kingsley Okoye
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday announced that it has postponed its planned 40th anniversary celebration.
The Managing Director of the agency, Mr Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.
Onanuga said that the decision to postpone the earlier scheduled celebration was due to logistic challenges and the prevailing political activities in the country.
He said that the agency had over the past 40 years of existence, taken its operations to greater heights by embracing contemporary technological tools with which it serves its clients professionally.
According to him, NAN has moved from being an analogue text-only agency to a digitally-compliant flagship media establishment that serves its clients with text, audio and visual news contents.
He added that the agency, with staff strength of 75 members in 1978, now has 900 workers.
He stated that “some of the pioneer members of staff are alive and well, as they continue to make
their wealth of experience available to the organisation.”
He noted that some of the valued pioneer members of staff were among those to be honoured during the planned anniversary.
Established by Decree 19 of May 10, 1976 (now Act), the agency’s first news bulletin was published on
Oct. 2, 1978.
One of its editorial policy is to uphold the integrity of Federal Republic of Nigeria and promote harmonious relationship among the different groups cohabiting in the country.
The managing director said a new date for the anniversary would be announced in due course.
