The Anambra State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) celebrated its 2024 Patrons and Veterans Day amidst a nationwide hunger protest.
The event, held at the Godwin Ezemo International Press Center in Awka on Thursday, also featured an award presentation to some distinguished media supporters in Nigeria.
Comrade Ukpa Ewa Eke, the planning committee chairperson of the event, stated in her address that the two national events coincided by chance, noting that the committee had fixed August 1 for the program before the announcement of the nationwide hunger protest.
She noted that the program aimed to explore how leadership accountability is integral to economic growth and how the media serves as a cornerstone in this dynamic.
She recalled, “Moreover, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Anambra State Council, is deeply grateful for your support and generosity, which have been crucial in making our conference a success. Your contributions, given in the spirit of goodwill, have helped us cover essential costs and offset some of our debts.
“We kindly request your continued support to help us meet our remaining financial obligations. Your assistance is invaluable to us, and we are truly appreciative of your generosity.
Your presence here underscores the importance of our collective mission. Together, we can continue to shine a light on critical issues, advocate for truth and fairness, and contribute to a more informed and just society,” Eke appealed.
The keynote speaker at the program, Professor Clifford Ezekwe Nwanna from the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, urged both the media and masses to play their roles through what he termed three revolutions: ethical, educational, and judicial.
“The media should adhere strictly to their professional ethics. Media owners should regularly organize training and workshops for their workers.
The media has an enormous role to play in nation-building and should always remember that they are the nation’s watchdog. Nigeria needs a good economic recovery roadmap.
“Over the years, expenditures have persistently exceeded revenues, alongside corruption and mismanagement of borrowed funds.
I recommend prudent management of both fiscal and monetary policies to maintain a balanced budget. There should be intensive mobilization of domestic resources while accountability and prudent management based on cost efficiency should be encouraged among public officers.
“Borrowing should be done in a sound and economically viable manner. There should also be efficient management of borrowing and debt financing projects.
Debt liquidation must be pursued to liberate Nigeria from its debt trap and set a platform for sound financial footing for economic growth,” he stated.
He noted that the Nigerian government, rather than helping in this way, was trying everything possible to suppress the media, but they keep on fighting as watchdogs and should continue.
“Journalism has the necessary data and is more informed than many. They are critical as they give unbiased reports and judge correctly without emotions.
The media’s roles are very important because they collect data and use it to turn things around. That is why in the Western world, we have forensic journalism, investigative journalism, and others used in generating positive data.
“They make information available to religious leaders, law enforcement agents, government, and others because they gather quality data through interviews, questioning, investigation, and more. I want to urge policymakers to work with them. They can also initiate actions and help spearhead a lot of things, even in political instability.”
Iyom Obikwelu, a British citizen and American-trained nurse, in a remark, advocated for love among all, which she said was good for impacting lives positively and was evident in why she gives despite not being the richest.
“To impact lives positively, we need to always show love to all for the world to become a better place for all to live. Humanitarian services have exposed me to many things, and I have seen that it will be better to show love through giving. Let us imbibe the habits of sharing and giving,” she hinted.
The humanitarian per excellence and founder of Solution-Feed the Needy Foundation also used the opportunity to empower some women, people living with disabilities, and veteran journalists.
Also speaking, the Fellow, Nigeria Guild of Editors and former MD/CEO of Anambra State Printing Press, the publisher of the defunct National Light newspaper, Comrade Chuka Nnabuife, thanked the NUJ for choosing to honor the veterans, which, according to him, showed that they love and value life, humans, and professionalism.
Some of the veterans present at the event included Comrade Peter Nwasike, Comrade Sunny Azuka David, Comrade Uche Osunkwo, Comrade Uzoma Nzeagwu, Comrade Cyprian Ebele, Comrade Okechukwu Obeta, Comrade Michael Ezenwata, Comrade Charles Onyekamuo, Comrade Jude Atuoulazi, Comrade Emmanuel Ifesinachi, Comrade Monic Okechukwu, Comrade Ikem Asika, and Comrade Francis Ekpone.
Speaking also, the Commander of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Daniel Ogbonna Onyishi, urged the public to release information to them to completely exterminate substance and drug abuse in the state.
Onyishi added that the agency had taken the war against drugs to communities through the introduction of Community Drugs Control Committees, which he believed would help to easily identify drugs and substance addicts for rehabilitation or prosecution.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fred Agbata, said they have been assisting the state in promoting accountability by publicizing up-to-date information about the state on the website and had a partnership to make free Wi-Fi available every day at some places in Awka using what is called Solution Wi-Fi, and helped the state to update their documents to stop making us work.
Another speaker and Transition Committee Chairman of Njikoka Local Government Area, Barr. Chinedu Dominic, described the media as very important in society and should be supported in promoting good governance and the rule of law.
“Talking of corruption, the masses should stop applauding the corrupt people in society. We praise them unnecessarily and unjustifiably. If they stop doing this, they will stop exhibiting unwarranted wealth and titles, which encourages new ones to delve into it too. So, we should also talk to ourselves to do our part of not encouraging the corrupt too,” he noted.
The Chairman of the NUJ, Anambra State Council, Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, thanked the stakeholders for attending the program, urging them to shun fake journalists who, according to him, go about collecting brown envelope money.
Odogwu hinted that journalists were responsible and should be responsive, adding that they should never allow fake journalists to overtake them in the profession.
The Chairman of the Anambra State Local Government Service Commission, Barr. Vincent Ifeanyi Ezeaka, appreciated the NUJ for extending invitations to the commission, noting that corruption in Nigeria has become something everyone should stand up to fight as many have gone but are no longer relevant in solving Nigeria’s problems.
“It has come to a level where even primary school pupils are corrupt as parents even pay heavily to secure admissions for their children, among other things. We need to take the fight against corruption down to families, individuals, students, and so on.
“Governor Chukwuma Soludo has started a value reorientation program aimed at changing the way we think, reason, and behave for a better society. We need to key into this to change Nigeria. Why people always talk about federal and state governments is because they have the power to make good laws and policies,” he noted.
The Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Forster Ifejiofor, observed that leadership accountability should not be focused on government alone as everyone is a leader in diverse capacities.
“Everyone is a leader one way or the other as we all have something to contribute where we are. Everything rises and falls on leadership. We must take our roles seriously wherever we are and exemplify the change we deserve. Anambra is having the best of hands in governance as Soludo is genuinely committed to using the available funds to deliver good governance,” he hinted.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Emeka Onwudinjo, commended the NUJ for choosing the topic, noting that accountability leadership should equally be extended to the private sector as they would easily assist in reaching out to society.
Meanwhile, the NUJ also awarded patronships to Chief Hon. Amb. Tabansi Aloysius (Nwachinemelu n’Urum/President General, Urum) in recognition of his love for the media profession and the practitioners, High Chief Benjamin I. Nworji (Akunne Amanuke) Chairman, Auto Determination, Congo in recognition of his love for the media profession and the practitioners, Hon. Amb. Kingsley Uyammadu (Otosi Achalla) MD/CEO Kingspat Production Ltd in recognition of his love for the media profession and the practitioners, and Iyom Ngozi Chinelo Obikwelu (Iyom Ugochimelueze, Obeagu Nri) in recognition of her love for the media profession and the practitioners.
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