THE National Institute for Cultural Orientation, NICO, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture is organising a two-day Annual Round Table with the theme “Nigerian Indigenous Language Newspapers and National Development”.

The Annual Round Table, which comes up between May 15 and 16, at the Arewa House, Kaduna, by 11am, will be hosted by Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, while Nasir El-Rufai, governor of Kaduna State, will be the special guest of honour.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, Senator Mathew Urhoghide will chair the opening ceremony and the Chairman/Publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah will deliver the keynote address.

The lead paper presenter on the occasion is the CEO/Editor-in-Chief, Media Trust Limited, Mallam Manir Dan Ali and Professor Olu Obafemi of the University of Ilorin will serve as Moderator.

The Annual Round Table is designed to build the capacity of publishers, editors and art correspondents of the indigenous language newspapers in order to keep them abreast of contemporary realities in the sector and also enhance their professional skills and competence for effective service delivery.

The event underscores the relevance of indigenous language newspapers to national development and appreciates their role in the promotion of our cultural heritage. The event also emphasizes the importance of indigenous language newspapers as a potent tool for information dissemination and grass roots mobilisation as well as advocate for a synergy between the government and indigenous language newspapers in nation building.

—  May 11, 2017 @ 16:25 GMT