Vice President Kashim Shettima has described the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as a crucial player in the Nigeria's media landscape. Shettima said this at an audience with the management of NAN, led by its Managing Director, Malam Ali Mohammed Ali, at the Presidential Villa, on Monday Abuja. The Vice-President also noted that the agency plays a pivotal role in bridging information gap and shaping public discourse on national issues. ' NAN plays a very crucial role in Nigeria's media landscape, helping to bridge the information gap and shaping public discourse on national issues. ' The agency is the biggest content provider in the Africa continent. You still have a pivotal role to play because we all live and function in the world based on communications. 'Through communications we mould public opinion; through communications we build bridges of understanding and fraternity.' Shettima described the appointment of Ali by President Bola Tinubu, as the MD of NAN as a square peg in a square hole. The Managi ng Director, NAN, Malam Ali Mohammed Ali, presenting a plaque to the Vice-President Kashim Shettima, at the presidential villa, Abuja, on Monday. He also described Ali as a veteran journalist who grew up in the media ecosystem, saying 'honestly I was quite delighted when you were appointed as the MD of the News Agency of Nigeria. ' Your are a very sound professional and you have a history of very illustrious predecessors. ' So we are open for interface with your organisation in whatever way you feel we should play a role and the international conference you are organising is very good. ' Especially, the issue you are dwelling on; insecurity in the sahel. Honestly, the insecurity in the nation is something that is agitating the minds of President Bola Tinubu. 'I believe with the caliber of people that will attend this function we will come up with a lot of issues, a lot of perspectives on how to address the insecurity in the sahel in a holistic way not in piecemeal.' Earlier, Ali had told the Vice-Presid ent the visit was to intimate him about the plan for the first international lecture by the agency. ' In the letter we sent to you, we gave you an idea of what the lecture is all about. It's the first of it kind in the nearly 50 years of the agencies existence. ' This is the first time a lecture of this magnitude is being organised as part of the responsibility of the media to contribute and expand the frontiers of knowledge, to contribute to the body of knowledge with a view to finding solutions. ' The theme of the lecture is insecurity in the sahel (2008- 2024): Dissecting Nigeria's Challenges - Genesis, Impact and Options, and what is available for Nigeria.' Ali disclosed that the lead speaker for the planned lecture was someone very versed in security issues; the former ECOWAS President, Mohamed Ibn Chambas. ' Already former President Goodluck Jonathan has accepted to serve as the Chairman of the occasion. ' Only this morning, Sultan of Sokoto confirmed his availability on the 25th of September to b e the royal father of the day. ' Among other important dignitaries expected are the Oni of Ife, the Obi of Onitsha and the rest.' The NAN boss assured that the agency was living no stone unturned towards the successful hosting of the the international lecture. He said that the agency under his leadership had recorded some giant strides. ' Since we took charge a couple of months ago, one of which is that we have started broadcast in one of the major languages in the nation. ' We started vernacular Hausa portal of the agency which just started a couple of days ago. We hope that before the year ends at most by the first quarter of 2025, the three major languages will be reflected in the broadcast nationwide.' Ali added that the agency was working assiduously to reopen some of its shut offices especially in Europe. 'One of which is very central. With your support sir, we hope to reopen our London office. ' As you are aware the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) is the biggest news content provider in the contin ent of Africa. ' We have several subscribers and we have multi partnership with the major global news media outlets.' (https://www.nannews.ng) Source: News Agency of Nigeria