Lagos — The board of the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA) yesterday said it will partner with THISDAY Newspapers to stimulate and encourage intellectual, creative and academic development of Nigerians.

Leader of the team and Chairman, Governing Board of NNMA, Prof. Sylvester Adegoke who spoke, during a visit to THISDAY Corporate Headquarters, in Apapa, Lagos, said "In line with vision 20:20:20: programmes of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, the media organisations have a greater role to assist government to focus on getting Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora to be directly involved in our development effort".

He stated that in order to actualise the vision, there is need for the Nigerian intellectuals, fellows of the academics, engineers, industrialists and post graduate students to work together to achieve Nigeria's development effort aimed at making the country one of the 20 largest economics of the world by the year 2020.

Adegoke said NNMA wants to identify with the laudable achievements so far recorded by THISDAY in educating and enlightening Nigerians as well as in the promotion of culture within the country and at international levels.

He stressed that as a widely circulated and internationally recognised newspaper, which has occupied a prime position in the media world, NNMA will from this time forward request for coverage of its events.

" It is well noted that your organisation has been in the vanguard of organising important fora both at Lagos and Abuja, whereby international performers and Heads of Government are usually brought together and honoured by your organisation based on their various contributions to national development.

This unparalleled gesture is viewed by us as a welcome development and in consonance with NNMA's objectives," he said.

The professor explained that the objective of the NNMA is to conduct the award for the promotion of intellectual and academic excellence among Nigerians and accord proper and due recognition to outstanding intellectual and academic attainments as well as contribution to growth and development of the nation.