Hyacinth Chinweuba
The executive and members of the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) have applauded the appointment of Mr. Femi Babafemi as the Director Media and Advocacy of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Babafemi, who was the Editor, Saturday Sun, was recently appointed as NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy by its new Chairman/Chief Executive, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa.
CRAN, a group of journalists, drawn from all the media organisations assigned to cover crime and security beat, in a statement issued in Lagos, described the appointment as a right step in the right direction.
According to the release signed by Asiwaju Raymond Tedunjaye (JP), on behalf of the President of the Association, the Agency made a right choice in the person of Babafemi for the position, based on his experience, achievements and versatility in the media and public relations industry.
The group expressed confidence that Babafemi has what it takes to reposition the media department of the Agency for effective and efficient dissemination of information of its activities, as envisioned by its new Chairman.
It, therefore, called on all journalists to support the new NDLEA spokesperson to enable him succeed in the new task.
Babafemi holds a Masters degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Lagos and a Bachelor of Arts in English Language from the Obafemi Awolowo University, O.A.U, Ile-Ife.
Besides, he holds certificates in Communication Strategies, Royal Institute Of Public Administration, RIPA, London, 2008; Managing People For Strategic Advantage, Lagos Business School, Pan-African University, Lagos, 2009; and Effective Public Relations Planning, The Management School, London, 2011.
Babafemi who joined The Sun in 2003 as a pioneer staff left as Deputy News Editor in 2008 when he joined the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC as the agencys Head of Media and Publicity.
He returned to The Sun in April 2012 as an Assistant Editor and promoted Deputy Editor in June 2013.
In January 2017, he was appointed the substantive Editor of Saturday Sun.
With over 24 years post-graduation experience in Journalism, Media and Public Relations, Communication Strategies and Reputation Management, Babafemi started his career in the pen profession in the defunct National Concord.
An author of two books and member, U.S based Investigative Reporters and Editors, IRE, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, and the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, among others, he has attended various international conferences and seminars including World Bank/ United Nations Conference, Istanbul, Turkey, 2009; United Nations General Assembly, UNGA Conferences, New York, USA 2009, 2010 and 2011; International Anti-Corruption Conference, London, UK, 2010 and Commonwealth Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies Conference, Gaborone, Botswana, 2011.