International

Bauchi Governor Calls for Continued Dialogue Between Politicians and Media Practitioners

Published

2 years ago

May 25, 2023

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Bauchi Governor Calls for Continued Dialogue Between Politicians and Media Practitioners

By: Michael Mike

Bauchi State Governor, Alhaji Bala Mohammed has advocated continued dialogue between the media and the political class to check against skirmishes between the two protagonists of democracy.

Speaking on Friday in Abuja during the public presentation of a book titled, “Media and Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy: Civic Space, Free Speech, and the Battle for Freedom of the Press,” published by Lexington Books, edited by Paul Obi, Taye Obateru and Sam Amadi, Mohammed who was represented by Bauchi State Commissioner of Information and Communication, Adamu Gabarin, said: “My own experience as a journalist and as politician who has operated at the national and sub national levels and from the legislative and executive prisms is clear enough: democracy needs the media as fish needs water and the media in turn needs democracy as humans need air.”

He admitted that: “Politicians can sometimes be excessive in trying to constrain the media and the media, especially in this age of new and social media, can be excessive, extreme, intolerant and abusive in defence of its space or territory.”

He however advised that: “Practitioners of both domains must continually call for dialogue which will stimulate understanding, tolerance which foregrounds respects, and the spirit of give and take which undergirds the building of consensus for the greater public good. It is by engaging in this form of open deliberations that press freedom, media rights, civil liberties and constitutional governance will be better served.”

Mohammed while stating that he is proud of his dual vocations as a journalist and a public servant as both roles lie at the base of Nigeria’s steady march towards progress, noted that “the relationship between the media and politics is still work in progress for the very fact that our democracy is still young and, in some regard, tentative in nature. And for it to endure, to flourish and to become irreversible it requires not just the cooperation and understanding between the media and politicians; not just mutual respect between them but more importantly the recognition of boundaries and the ability to navigate tensions, contradictions and conflicts when such boundaries are repeatedly crossed by both sides.”

He said the content of the presented book, which is reflected in its title, lies at the centre of the current debate in Nigeria regarding the place of the media in Nigeria’s democratic transformation and consolidation, insisting that the key elements of this debate relate to the role of the media in empowering civic spaces and strengthening democratic governance and, of course, the challenges the media face in engaging in such undertakings.

The governor said: “As we present this book today I call on all practitioners to make good use of the book and propagate the gospel of unity and national consciousness,” and “as practitioners we should equally shunt away bias reporting of events and remains steadfast with our professional calling.”

One of the panelists at the occasion, Prof. Udenta Udenta argued that free media is the live wire of democracy, insisting that the media cannot do without democracy as much as democracy cannot do without the media.

He however warned against the threat clampdown on those planning to protest during next Monday’s presidential inauguration, insisting that it is a right to protest in a democracy and that the civic space cannot be shutdown because of a swearing in a new President.

One of the authors of the book, Paul Obi disclosed that the writing of the book was conceived by the planned move by the federal government to have a stranglehold on the nation media by enacting laws seen by media practitioners as stifling and unhealthy to media practice in the country.

Bauchi Governor Calls for Continued Dialogue Between Politicians and Media Practitioners

International

The Body Shop Extends Reach in Nigeria

Published

6 hours ago

October 28, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

The Body Shop Extends Reach in Nigeria

…. Opens First Store in Lagos

By: Michael Mike

The Body Shop has announced the opening of a new store in Nigeria, bringing ethical, naturally inspired beauty to Lagos.

Following the successful launch in Abuja and a national e-commerce site earlier in the year, the new opening marks an important step in the brand’s commitment to West Africa and its broader global growth strategy.

The new store in Lagos, located at Ikeja City Mall, brings the number of jobs created by the brand in Nigeria to over 20. The store will be home to the full range of Body Shop products, ranging from newly launched collections, such as Spa of the World, to its Most Loved products and ranges enriched with Community Fair Trade ingredients, including Shea, Tea Tree, and Aloe

According to a statement on Monday by Senior Press & Public Affairs Officer | Comms Lead, Prosperity and Economic Growth. Ndidiamaka Eze, with the customer placed at the heart of the store experience, locals and visitors alike will be welcomed through the signature dark green facade, into a world where confidence is beautiful. Members of the expert in-store team will be on hand to guide customers through the product ranges, consult on skincare needs and even offer a relaxing hand massage or treatment at the sink.

Speaking at the launch ceremony hosted at his Residence, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr. Jonny Baxter said:“The Body Shop’s arrival in Lagos marks more than a business expansion. It’s a powerful symbol of the deepening UK-Nigeria trade relationship. With bilateral trade now at £7.9 billion and rising, Nigeria stands as the UK’s second-largest trading partner in Africa and our leading export market on the continent.

“We’re especially proud to see this franchise led by Shalom Lloyd MBE, a dynamic British-Nigerian entrepreneur whose work in skincare, healthcare, and women’s empowerment reflects the kind of innovative, purpose-driven partnerships we champion. Her collaboration with The Body Shop is a shining example of the impact UK-Nigeria cooperation can achieve.”

“Expanding into Lagos marks another step in The Body Shop’s global growth strategy. As we accelerate our presence across high-potential markets, West Africa plays an important role in shaping the future of our business. Lagos, as a dynamic commercial hub, allows us to connect with a new generation of consumers who share our belief that beauty can be a force for good,”said Mike Jatania, CEO & Executive Chairman, The Body Shop.

“This is not just about opening a store, it is about deepening trade ties, creating opportunities, and showing the world what happens when values-driven business meets one of the most vibrant cities on earth,” added Shalom Ijeoma Lloyd MBE,

General Manager, The Body Shop Nigeria.

The Body Shop has longstanding and meaningful connections to Africa, first forged by founder Dame Anita Roddick who built personal and professional ties to the region that have been carried forward by the brand and continue to thrive today. They include partnerships with three Community Fair Trade suppliers – tea tree oil grown by smallholder farmers near Mount Kenya to shea butter handcrafted by women’s cooperatives in northern Ghana to moringa seed oil cultivated by wild harvesters in Rwanda’s eastern provinces.

The Body Shop has long invested in sourcing high quality ingredients from Community Fair Trade partners across the globe. The brand believes in building sustainable, fair supply chains that empower women and support local communities.

The Body Shop was founded in 1976 in Brighton, England, by Dame Anita Roddick. The Body Shop is a pioneer in ethical beauty, offering high quality, innovation-driven skin care, body care, hair and makeup products made with natural and fair-trade ingredients from around the world.

The Body Shop Extends Reach in Nigeria

International

Israeli envoy expresses sympathy to innocent victims of war with Hamas

Published

1 week ago

October 20, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Israeli envoy expresses sympathy to innocent victims of war with Hamas

By: Michael Mike

Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman has expressed sympathy for the innocent souls that died in the war with Hamas.

Freeman expressed his sympathy on Sunday on the occasion commemorating the 2nd year memorial of the war with Hamas.

He said:”Friends, as we remember the victims of October 7, we also express sympathy for the innocent Palestinians who have lost their lives in this war—a war Israel never wanted, a war Israel never started – a war that was forced upon us.

“We grieve for every innocent soul, because we value life—all life.”

The envoy insisted that they are not foreigners and neither did they colonise the land.

He said: “We are not foreigners in Israel, we did not colonize the land of Israel; we returned to it. Jews have lived in Jerusalem, Tiberias, Hebron, Tsfat and every part of our land for over 3,000 years. Through exile and dispersion, we prayed toward Jerusalem, and we remembered Jerusalem at every wedding, every festival, and at every dinner table.

“We revived our language, planted forests, gathered exiles, welcomed survivors, and built a modern technology-based economy in a nation reborn.

“Israel was not created because of the Holocaust. It was created in spite of it.”

He stressed that: “Israel is not built on pity. Israel is built on courage, on faith, on history.

“And today, “Never Again” is not just a slogan. It is the Iron Dome that protects children in Sderot. It is the Israeli pilot in the sky. It is the 18-year-old girl in olive uniform, standing guard so that our children can sleep at night.”

He also expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump of the United States “for his steadfast support, his courage in recognizing truths others ignored, and his unique efforts in bringing our hostages home and helping to finally end this war.”

Highlights of the evening were virtual testimonies of survival of the October 7 2023 attack.

Israeli envoy expresses sympathy to innocent victims of war with Hamas

International

Israeli Embassy Celebrates Release of 20 Hostages by Hamas

Published

2 weeks ago

October 13, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Israeli Embassy Celebrates Release of 20 Hostages by Hamas

By: Michael Mike

The Embassy of Israel in Nigeria has celebrated the 20 Israeli hostages who have finally returned home after 738 days of being held hostage by Hamas.

The embassy in a statement on Monday by the Ambassador of Israel to Nigeria, Michael Freeman said “the Embassy of Israel in Nigeria joins the people of Israel, the global Jewish community, and all people of goodwill in celebrating the release of 20 Israeli hostages who have finally returned home after 738 harrowing days in captivity under the evil terror organization Hamas.
 “This long-awaited moment is one of profound relief, national unity, and moral victory. It reminds the world of Israel’s enduring commitment to the sanctity of life and to the defense of its citizens against terror and tyranny.”

The statement added that: “From the beginning, Israel has made clear: Israel did not want this war and did not start it. The conflict began two years ago, on October 7th, 2023, a sacred Jewish holiday, when thousands of Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, committing acts of unimaginable cruelty — murdering, torturing, raping, and burning alive innocent Israelis in their homes and at a peaceful music festival.

“Since that day, Hamas has brought unimaginable suffering not only to Israel but to the people of Gaza, deliberately using civilians as human shields, hiding in and beneath mosques, schools, and hospitals, and turning homes into arsenals of terror. Their crimes have violated every moral, human, and legalprinciple.

“For two years, Israel has faced lies, distortions, and blood libels — false and immoral accusations of deliberate starvation and genocide — while defending its citizens and seeking the return of its kidnapped sons and daughters. Israel has acted with moral clarity, guided by international law, and motivated by a deep moral commitment to protect life, even as its enemies sought to pervert truth and justice.
Today, Israel celebrates the return of its people — and looks forward to the dawn of peace and stability in the region.”

Freeman said: “Today, we welcome home the 20 living hostages who have endured the unendurable. We give thanks for their survival, and we pray for their healing. We remember with broken hearts those who did not make it home, and we renew our commitment to bring back the bodies of the 28 remaining hostages who were murdered by Hamas.

“Israel did not seek this war. It was forced upon us by terror, hatred, and darkness. But after 738 days, we also see light — the light of freedom, the light of truth, and the light of hope.

“As Israel has always said, the release of the hostages will bring the end of the war.
The end of this war must bring an end to Hamas’s reign of terror, and open the door to a future of security, dignity, and coexistence — for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to President Donald J. Trump, whose steadfast leadership, moral clarity, and tireless diplomacy played an instrumental role in bringing our hostages home and in advancing peace in the Middle East. His friendship with Israel and his courage in standing with the Israeli people will never be forgotten.”

Israeli Embassy Celebrates Release of 20 Hostages by Hamas