The Nigeria Union of Journalist, Ekiti State Information chapel celebrated it’s 2022 edition of annual information week in Ado Ekiti with a call to all journalists to be objective in their reportage
The Chairman NUJ of the Chapel, Comrade O’seun Ogunsakin, who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Comrade Sunday Abimbola, in his welcome address, said the event was a combination of lecture and award ceremony
Speaking on the importance of the lecture centered on the importance of media practitioners in the 2023 general elections, Comrade Ogunsakin said, “as we all know, the stage is already set for the polls as parties have concluded their primaries and are now into the campaign process. This is where our objective and professional reportage is required”.
Ogunsakin reiterated that various parties have used the media to reach out to the electorates, but the roles of journalists must go beyond just election coverage. “We must ensure objective reportage and resist the temptation to set the country on fire.
According to the chairman, “already, the election is tilting towards ethnic and religious sentiments, the media must ensure that Nigeria remains one indivisible nation before, during and after the poll”.
While expressing optimism that the lecture will encourage media practitioners in taking up the challenges posed by the forthcoming elections, the Chairman said he has confidence in the ability of the lecturer, Mr Jide Ogunluyi to do justice to the topic.
Speaking also about the award, Ogunsakin echoed that the awardees were carefully selected from a pool of hardworking Nigerians without bias to their religious or political leanings. These people have served Ekiti people and humanity in general meritoriously, and so, the award was aimed at encouraging them to do more.
In his good will message, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Values Orientation, Mr Olufemi Adedipe congratulated the leadership of the union for this year’s celebration, saying he was happy about the progress of the union and expressed confidence that the Union will attain a greater height and be a force to be reckoned with in the comity of unions.
Those awarded were Mr Yinka Oyebode, Dr. Margaret Fagboyo, Chief (Mrs) Mojisola Elebute- Halle, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele and Chief Oluwole Orungbe.
In separate interviews,the recipients appreciated the union for the honor and promised not to relent in their efforts to continue to pursue the good of Ekiti State and humanity in general.