By Joan Nwagwu
Staff members of the News Agency of Nigeria were overjoyed on Friday when the management of the Agency honoured three members of the editorial department for outstanding performance.
Those honoured are: Cecilia Ologunagba, who emerged as the Best Reporter, Wale Sadiq as Best Editor and Donald Ugwu as Best Controller for the year 2020.
The Managing-Director of NAN, Mr Buki Ponle, while commending the awardees, said that in spite of COVID-19 pandemic they gave their best in their line of duty.
Ponle said that the award was to promote excellence, hard work and professionalism in the agency.
He commended the Rewards and Sanctions Committee, headed by Mr Kayode Olaitan, for a job well done and also following due diligence in its assignment.
He called on members of staff of the agency to put in their best at all times stressing that hard work, commitment and professionalism would always be recognised and rewarded.
On Ologunagbas selection, the managing director said that it was a thing of joy for him that she emerged the best reporter.
I am happy about her choice because she is also the agencys choice as the new correspondent to its New York office in the U.S.
The news of her choice received a louder ovation when her name came up as our correspondent in New York.
So, it means she has been consistent; it means with or without supervision she will perform; it means we still have stars in NAN.
Every one of us is a star, please dont burry your star, shine when the ovation is louder, he said.
Ponle said that the exercise was also a challenge to other departments in the agency saying that it was a wake-up call.
They are already awake, and, I am sure that they will want to wrestle the trophy because we are celebrating success of every department.
Success in one department is success to all; likewise, failure in one is failure to all, he said.
The Editor-in-Chief, Mr Silas Nwoha, also commended the awardees for their hard work and dedication to duty in spite of COVID-19 challenges.
Nwoha called on the editorial staff members to put in their best by ensuring that hard work and due diligence were maintained.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Olaitan, said that the committee was thorough in the selection of the awardees.
Olaitan said that the committee used different variables to consider the best reporter, editor and controller from the 36 states and FCT.
Reporters are scrutinised on the number of stories, quality, and, in some cases usage; meaning that a lower number of quality stories backed with multimedia contents and features can beat someone with higher number of routine stories.
One of the awardees, Ugwu, an Assistant-Editor-In-Chief, commended the management for the honour.
I am happy for the honour and commend the agency for the award and I also encourage others to put inmore efforts in carrying out their duty with diligence in the agency.
Also speaking, Ologunagba, a Chief Correspondent, thanked the agency for the honour.
She dedicated the award to the former Managing Director, the late Dame Oluremi Oyo, for her mentorship, adding that the award was a wakeup call that would spur her for greater attainment.
Cash award of N25, 000 was presented to the best reporter by the managing-director. (NAN)
Source: NAN News