Politics Watch aims to foster engagement with the political process and will serve as a forum for a constructive exchange of ideas, especially as the UK diaspora has a key role to play in driving the step-change that is so needed to turn Nigeria into the African powerhouse the world expects it to be, say the publishers.
The launch of the new section coincides with Nigerian Watch’s first foray into international publishing as it has struck an agreement with Transcorp Hilton among other five-star resorts to distribute copies of Nigerian Watch to high value guests and visitors.
Maryanne Jemide, publisher of Nigerian Watch, comments: “While the 2015 Presidential elections still seem a long time away, campaigning is heating up. As the diaspora is widely expected to play a crucial role in shaping a modern Nigeria that is ready and able to take up the baton as African superpower, we wanted to create a platform for a two-way dialogue between the two countries.
“For this reason, it was also essential to extend our distribution beyond UK borders and ensure that the diasporan voice reaches the movers and shakers based in Nigeria. We are very pleased with our agreement with Transcorp Hilton and are working hard to extend our reach within Nigeria even further.”
The first edition of Politics Watch will be featured in the September edition of the newspaper, out on Friday 30 August and includes:
• An editorial about the importance of the 2015 Presidential elections
• A 20-point blueprint for a modern Nigeria
• A report about political economy and management expert, Professor Pat Utomi, who calls on the diaspora to be a key agent to developing Nigeria
• A news story about Ugoh Wilson Emenike who uses writing as a weapon to tackle corruption and has recently won Transparency International’s 20th Anniversary Youth & Writing Competition
