HQ building poses new challenge

The recent completion of Media Trust Limited’s gleaming 6-storey headquarters building at Utako and the movement of all departments into it is a significant landmark in the company’s development but it also poses new challenges, Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of the company Malam Kabiru Yusuf said in Abuja last night. He spoke at the Annual Dinner for Long Service, Excellence and Integrity Awards.

The chairman said while the management and all the staff are happy to be working in a conducive new environment that the new headquarters building affords, they must not take it as a sign that the company “has arrived there” but must rededicate themselves and work even harder to consolidate on the gains made. Maintenance costs increased greatly with the movement into the new building, he said.

Yusuf also said while Media Trust’s newspapers are also among the top three or four in the country, the company’s goal is to produce world-class newspapers. He said the company recently recruited new staffers nationally and internationally “because we do not believe that the current staff or even the top management has all the skills and competencies that are required to take the company to where we want it to be.”

He congratulated the winners of the awards in various categories and said the company will continue to reward excellence and integrity, both of which are among its core values. It will also reward staffers who put in ten or more years of dedicated service to the company. Two staffers, Salihu Makera of Aminiya newspaper and Salisu Dabo of the Marketing Department won the Chairman’s Integrity awards which carry a cash prize of N250,000. The excellence awards went to Daily Trust’s Yobe State correspondent Kabiru Matazu and Charles Mere of Adverts Department, Lagos. One staff member won an award for 15 years’ service while ten others won awards for ten years’ service to the company.

Recipient of 10 years Long Service award, Hajiya Safiya Dantiye (right) being presented with her prize by the Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Media Trust Limited, Mahmud Jega, during the company’s Long Service and Merit Award in Abuja yesterday.

PHOTOS: GODSWILL AYEMOBA Recipient of the Chairman’s Excellence award, Charles Mere (right) being presented with his prize by the Managing Director/Chief Operating Officer, Ishaq Ajibola, during the Media Trust Limited Long Service and Merit Award in Abuja yesterday.

Recipient of Integrity award, Salihu Dabo (right), being presented with his prize by the Chairman, Media Trust Limited, Malam Kabiru Yusuf, during the company’s Long Service and Merit Award in Abuja yesterday.

Recipient of the Chairman’s Excellence award, Hamisu Matazu (right) being presented with his prize by the Managing Director/Chief Operating Officer, Ishaq Ajibola, during the Media Trust Limited Long Service and Merit Award in Abuja yesterday.

Recipient of Integrity award, Salihu Makera, (right) being presented with his prize by the Chairman, Media Trust Limited, Malam Kabiru Yusuf, during the company’s Long Service and Merit Award in Abuja yesterday.