As part of activities to mark the 60th birthday celebration of the Chairman of Correspondents Chapel,Abia NUJ, Journalist Obinna Ibe, the book, “Journalism My Natural Calling,Triumph And Travails,My Journey So Far”, will be unveiled today.
In a Media briefing held at the Secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Chapter, to hint journalists of his 60th birthday celebration, which would feature the official unveiling of the book,”Journalism My Natural Calling,Triumph And Travails,My Journey So Far”,Chief Obinna Ibe, said the book which numbers two in his archive, would be launched to bring to bare,his 32 years media experience.
The event which would be held at the Bishop Nwedo Pastoral Centre,Umuahia, on the 24th of November,2022, would attract veterans, friends, family members,as well as political stalwarts to celebrate the media guru who has paid his dues in the pen profession.
Narrating how he started his journalistic journey, Obinna Ibe, disclosed that he never wanted to go into journalism but his passion for writing dragged him into the profession in 1989.
According to him,in 1982 when he left Secondary School, he had already developed the passion for writing,to the admiration of some National Dailies,that were already using his writeups as at then.
“This passion grew so hard that by 1989,i was fully involved in the profession and today after 32 years of practice,i have written for Print and Electronic media,both daily,weekly,bi-weekly, monthly among others.
“I have every reason to be thankful to God.For the past 32 years,i have never been involved in any form of accident or any risk associated with the job.
“I decided to celebrate my 60th birthday with a book of my journey so far as a Pen pusher.Though it has not been easy,but God has been faithful”, he said.
Expressing gratitude to God, Journalist Ibe, stated that even though he is not rich, he is very thankful to God,for keeping him in sound health.
According to him,many people of his age have either died or are in different hospitals, battling one form of ailment or the other, but here he is, sound both mentally and physically, looking far younger than his age, adding that he wouldn’t mind returning to the next world as a journalist.
He, however, enjoined journalists to brace up with the challenges of the new media,so as to remain relevant in the profession.
Contributing the Abia Chairman of the NUJ, Comr Victor Ndukwe, congratulated Journalist Ibe on his 60th birthday and as well the launch of his second book, which he described as a good to the Journalism profession.
He called on journalists to imbibe the lifestyle of celebrating one another particularly the elderly, stating that Abia journalists should not ignore the elderly in the profession but learn how to grab from their wealth of experience.
Also, the Chapel Chairman of BCA,Comr Chukwuma Emele, the Abia State correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria,Comr Sam Oditah and the State Correspondent of Statesman,Comr Henrietta Ashikordi, dropped laudable comments about Journalist Ibe, describing him as a dogged and likeable fellow,who would not stop at anything in pushing the profession.
According to them, Journalist Ibe has been an asset to the Abia chapter of NUJ and the Correspondent chapel in particular, having carved a niche for himself, which has brought him to the limelight of the profession.They, however, wished him a wonderful celebration.
Present at the Media briefing were journalists from various Newpaper and Radio houses,as well as Information officers from the Ministry of Information.
The event also featured cutting of the birthday cake and special prayers for the celebrant.
