Ist News, an authoritative and credible online news platform, formally goes live today, Monday, July 1, 2019.

The launch will, however, be a soft one in view of the fact that the platform has been operational since August 2018 as Sabinews which was later migrated to 1st News in April 2019.

Making the announcement, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mr. Gideon Ayogu, stated that the online medium will stand out for its unique style of journalism.

“With 1stNews.com, we are bringing back the glory days of journalism in Nigeria. Beyond just reporting credible news, Ist News is all about insightful journalism and in-depth analysis of socio-economic issues bordering on our national development. It is also a platform which will focus on topical global issues and events. We will cover the world passionately.”

Continuing, he disclosed that the platform will bring online some of the legendary names in Nigerian journalism including Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, Yakubu Mohammed and Soji Akinrinade.

The quartet, all former Directors of Newswatch, are contemporaries of the late maverick journalist, Dele Giwa. Giwa co-founded Newswatch Magazine alongside Ekpu, Agbese and Mohammed in 1984. He was killed by a mail bomb in his Lagos home on 19 October, 1986. The assassination occurred two days after he had been interviewed by State Security Service (SSS) officials.

Also on board is Chris Uwaje, Africa Chair for IEEE-World Forum on Internet of Things (IoTs).

Uwaje, a fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society and Past-President of the Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN) is an Information Technology (IT) veteran. He commands a senior leadership position in the IT professional and industry domain with over four decades of on-the-job IT Practice as Computer Scientist across four continents, namely Europe, Africa, Asia and North America.

“Among the contributors we have on board are four of the household names in Nigerian journalism: Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, Yakubu Mohammed and Soji Akinrinade. These gentlemen have a lot to offer in view of their privileged status in the Nigerian journalism landscape,” Ayogu affirmed.

“Also writing for 1st News is Chris Uwaje, who is widely known as the Oracle of the Nigerian IT Industry. His weekly interventions will enrich the discourse of Nigeria’s technology roadmap and collective narrative.

“Further lending a sense of excitement is the presence of Ozinna Anumudu. Ozinna is a renowned fashion connoisseur who will liven up the fashion and entertainment fare on 1st News.

“With this platform, we are using a multimedia approach to tell our stories in a captivating and accurate manner. Ours is a convergence of bold and audacious news reporting that caters to all lovers of credible news, irrespective of gender and age. We are going to be objective, accurate, balanced and fair in our news presentation,” Ayogu said.

1stNews.com will cover a variety of interesting contents and categories including news, politics, technology, business, entrepreneurship, investment, lifestyle and sports, among others.

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