Today, a new horizon in the media world is opened in Nigeria. A brand-new newspaper — the DAILY NEWSCRAFT —, edited by some of the best hands in the industry, has been launched into the already crowded media industry.
With the motto: ‘Professionalism, Excellence and Integrity’, the newspaper, a national daily, is designed with the objective of redefining journalism in Nigeria through balanced reporting, investigative features, and solution-driven news. Professionalism, and integrity will remain our watchword.
Headquartered in Abuja, with bureaus in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Enugu, Daily Newscraft focuses heavily on economic development, governance, technology, and grassroots stories.
Available in both print and digital formats, the publication aims to bridge the gap between complex policy decisions and the everyday Nigerian. The publication also aims to serve the evolving needs of Nigeria’s diverse readership by promoting ethical standards in an era of rapid AI-driven media changes.
“We are not new in the sense that we have operated as an online newspaper since August 2022. We are, however, entering the market with today’s formal launching to challenge the status quo. Our mission is not just to report the news, but to provide in-depth analysis that empowers citizens, supports local entrepreneurs, and holds leaders accountable. We are committed to fostering national dialogue that is constructive, credible, and culturally relevant,” the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Obinna Nwachukwu, said.
Daily Newscraft boasts of seasoned journalists of over thirty years standing in the media industry, including Dr. Obinna Nwachukwu (Publisher/Editor-in-Chief), Mr Yakubu Lawal, (Executive Editor), and Sir Tony Obiechina (Managing Editor).
Nwachukwu was the immediate past Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of Montage Africa Media Limited, owners of the New National Star Newspaper, Montage Radio 99.7, and Montage digital Television. An award-winning journalist, Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), and member of the Nigerian Guild of Educators, he brings to bear his management and professional experiences, covering several sectors of the economy.
Lawal distinguished his career in the Punch and the Guardian newspapers, covering the oil & gas, and power sectors — both in Nigeria and outside the country. He once served as the Special Adviser on Media to the former Minister of Power before joining the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) where he rose to the position of the General Manager (Communications and Public Relations).
In the same vein, Obiechina, a knight of the Catholic Church, once served as the Editor of the defunct Post Express Newspaper before joining the Israeli Embassy in Nigeria as Head of Political and Media Affairs.
The newspaper has also assembled an array of talented editorial team led by Mr Ben Atonko, former Editor of Daily Assets Newspaper to oversee the daily production and publication of the newspaper (online, e-copy, and hardcopy)
The newspaper also has reputable Nigerians on its Editorial Advisory Board. Some of them are: HE Amb. (Dr.) Godknows Igali, a former super Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Power and former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Scandinavian countries. He will serve as the Chairman of the Editorial Advisory Board. Other members of the board include: an erudite lawyer and former Senate Leader, HE Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma- Egba; Prof. Uche Uwaleke — a foremost professor of the capital market; and Chief Emeka Wogu — Chairman, South East Development Commission (SEDC), and former Minister of Labour and Productivity.
Others include: former Education Minister, Prof Chinwe Obaji — former Director Administration, Police Service Commission (PSC); Nze Emmanuel Ibe, Sir Charles Omalu, Engr Aliyu Tukur Tahir (immediate past Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation/MD NEMSA), Dr. Bayero Salih-Farah (DG, NITT Zaria), erudite scholar and former Chairman of the NNPP now a chieftain of the APC, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali.
Others are: Mr James Olotu, former MD/CEO, Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC); Engr. Lanre Egberongbe, Mr. Kevin Ike and Prof. Sam Egbu, a university lecturer and political scientist, amongst other notable Nigerians.
As a media establishment, the Daily Newscraft Newspaper believes that news and information dissemination have a vital role to play in the development of Nigeria and Africa (and wherever else the organisation might be present). This belief is based on the acknowledged responsibilities and influential power of a free Press in a modern society.
In this regard, the company recognises that Freedoms of Speech and of the Press are basic elements of any democracy or an emerging democracy. A free, independent Press is among the most important institutions in a democratic country.
As a social institution, the Media discharges crucial duties by carrying information, debates, analytical and critical comments on society. The media is, therefore, particularly responsible for allowing different views to be expressed.
The Media protects the Freedom of Speech, and it should not yield to any pressure from anybody or any institution that might want to prevent the free flow of accurate and factual information, free access to sources, and open debate on any matter of importance to society.
The newspaper’s news and information dissemination must remain independent of vested interests or external influences. Its structure, ownership and editorial policies are known to all. Its news and information dissemination would be comprehensive and accurate in content and commentaries, fair and considered. The constant objective is to ascertain and verify the truth of what is to be published insofar as this can be established.
Although we won’t claim to be entirely different from what has been the norm in the media industry, but we make haste to say that veracity and accuracy in reporting are an integral part of our editorial policy, and our editors will only publish that which they believe to be true, fair and accurate. Every effort will be made to ascertain the factual accuracy of articles through, for instance, cross-checking of facts and the mandatory use of tape-recorders or other recording devices.
All our editorial contents will be selected for their inherent news value, and not to appease, augment or respond to political, commercial or any other interests. In this respect, all advertisements and advertising-related material will be signposted as such.
Furthermore, the newspaper will differentiate clearly between views and opinions on the one hand, and news and reportage on the other hand. The former, whether they are the opinions of external/guest contributors or of the paper itself, will be clearly identified in designated columns or programmes. In the case of contributors, articles will carry a biographical line setting out their qualifications, and where appropriate, political stance and affiliation.
The newspaper shall support the principles of democracy as they are most widely understood, that is, good governance, transparency and accountability, regular, free and fair elections, as well as social equity.
The newspaper shall equally support the role of responsible and credible civil society organisations (CSOs) in the promotion of democracy and good governance. It supports and promotes the protection and promotion of human rights and civil liberties. It supports and promotes public debates on matters of national importance, with a view to bringing about behavioural and policy change for the common good.
We shall also support the most economically vulnerable members of the society through its various Corporate Social Responsibility programmes. The newspaper deliberately promotes and encourages environmental journalism, appropriate research, and adoption of new technologies aimed at enhancing the quality of human life.
It will promote media freedom by balancing this value with a well-developed sense of responsibility, as well as promote the national efforts of the people of Nigeria to develop and harmonise their institutions for the common good, and will encourage regional integration where this is practicable, and demonstrable to the advantage of the people of those regions and states involved.