Rivers
Envoy Tasks Journalists On Social Media Network
The Consul General of United States consulate in Nigeria, Mr Joffery Hawkins, has charged practicsing journalists in the country to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by social media to improve their career.
The Consul General, who was addressing journalists during the closing ceremony of a training organised by the consulate in conjunction with the school of media and communication (SMC), Pan-African University at SMC Lagos, said that the social media is an important tool for journalism practice.
Hawkins, who described Nigerians journalists as active species reiterated the need for the participants to use the knowledge gotten from the training to improve their practice.
He said the training with the theme: “Best Journalism Practice In The Digital Age” was the consulate’s way of marking the World International Women History month in March, stressing that the leadership of journalism profession in Nigeria is dominated by the males, adding that there is the need for the female journalists to work harder to climb to the top of the profession in the country.
Also speaking, the resource person, Lucinda Fleesen from Philip Merrill College of Journalism, University of Maryland, said Nigerian journalists have better chances than people in the other countries.
Fleeson maintained that journalists should remain professionals at all times, stating “I am impressed by your intelligence and the zeal to improve in your profession.”
The new president of Nigerian Guide of Editors, Femi Adesina, commended the consulate and Pan-African University for its effort in organising the training which will lead to an improvement in the profession.
Adesina stated that training is top in his agenda towards improving the skills of journalists, which he said was achieved during the training.
Rivers
Rivers CJ To Sanction Lawyers Who Refuse To Comply With ADR Compliance
The Rivers state Chief Judge, Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI has given an indication to sanction any lawyer who fail to comply with directive of a judge in the state to transferred a case to Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse for Alternatives Dispute Resolution.
Justice AMADI stated this during a brief ceremony held at the chief judge auditorium in port Harcourt Friday held to hand over certificates of operation to two private ADR chambers on Precarious Dispute Resolution Services and Harmony Arbitration and mediation center .
He urged the two private ADR centres to be diligent in the discharge of their duties and warned against compromising the standard of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR but should observed the regulations set out in collaboration regulation by the state Multi Door Court House.
Earlier in a address, the Director of the State Multi Door Courthouse, VICTOR NWEKE esq, highlighted some of the achievements of the Multi Door Courthouse especially in decongestion of court rooms.
NWEKE while disclosing how the department certified the two private ADR centres called for serious punitive measures be taken against any lawyer who fail to comply with a case referred to Multi Door Court House by a judge or magistrates in the state.
In her acceptance speech on behalf of the two certified private ADR centres, ALICE NIMI commended the State Judiciary and Multi Door Courthouse for the approval and assured that all the rules and regulations spelt out will be followed.
In a related development; the Rivers State Judiciary has assured its readiness to collaborate with Nigerian Securityding Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in using Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve some of the issues in their office.
The state Chief Judge , Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI made the promise when he received in audience the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE OLOWO and his team who paid him a courtesy visit in his office , Friday where issuees ADR utilization took centre stage.
He used the opportunity to brief his visitors on the hurdles judges faces daily in the court room and the need for the decongestion of the court room , stressing that one judge handle more than three hundred cases but that if lawyers and litigants adopt ADR practice court rooms can be releive of the daily congestions.
The state Chief Judge however urged NSCDC to ensure a wider sensitization of the members of the public on the practice of ADR for a better awareness and knowledge.
Earlier in his speech, the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE-OLOWO said the visit was to seek collaboration on the use of ADR in resolving some issues which he insisted would help decongest the courtrooms.
Our correspondent reports officials of the Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse led by the Director, VICTOR NWEKE led the team of NSCDC on a technical session where information on how to the fully in cooperated into the Multi Door Courthouse and operation of ADR will be emphasized.
Akujobi Amadi