As the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Chapter, joins other counterpart across the globe to celebrate the 2021 World Press Freedom Day, journalists have been urged to use their profession to promote public good.
The World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, to be celebrated on the 3rd day of May, every year.
This year’s celebration was held at the NUJ Press Centre with the theme, “Information As A Public Good”, with veterans in the profession,the Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, the Chief Press Secretary to the Abia State Governor, Onyebuchi Ememanka,past commissioners for Information,Chief Don Ubani who is also the Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Deputy Governor, Comr Bonnie Iwuoha, Professors of Mass Communication,seasoned journalists, all in attendance.
In his welcome address,the Abia NUJ chairman, Comr Victor Ndukwe gave credence to this year’s theme, saying it is apt, especially at the face of the present security challenges confronting the nation.
Ndukwe said the event should serve as an opportunity to remind relevant stakeholders including government at all levels,of the need to respect their commitment to Press Freedom, which entails free access to news source and promoting the welfare of media practitioners,with a view to enhancing objectivity of the media.
The Abia NUJ chairman who further used the event to drum support for the profession and the media in entirety,called on governments to take the lead by properly equipping government owned media houses and ensure regular training and retraining of their staff.
He said with a good working environment, better incentive, working tools and training, Nigeria journalists would spring surprises in their job.
Ndukwe stated that there is a dire need for all institutions in our nation, especially the media, to be strengthened,so as to serve the public and not the good of powerful individuals.
He added that journalists should ensure that the media at all times, communicates the truth, promote peace, justice and fairness to all,as this also constitute the public good.
While wishing media practitioners an eventful celebration, the NUJ chairman, said it is imperative for public officers to make information available to all segments of the society so that all would be on the same page and eliminate mutual suspicion, stressing that this would go a long way in ensuring an inclusive society devoid of the current peddling of fake news, security challenges and discordant tunes in the country.
However, Ndukwe, reminded journalists of the fundamental principle of press freedom, independence and the need to protect professionals and the media from attacks, giving special reference to those who have died in the cause of their duty, those who suffer in one way or the other to bring timely, truthful and unbiased information to the society.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Information,chief John Okiyi Kalu, disclosed that the government of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, allows for press freedom and would continue to partner with the press in Abia state.
Kalu said that the Governor may not have done everything there is to do, but he has achieved what no other administration in Abia state has achieved.
He said Abia has remained one of the safest state and most peaceful in Nigeria, making journalism to thrive.
According to him, no journalist has been victimized or brutalized in the state, urging journalists to write positive reports of the state.
The Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Onyebuchi Ememanka, while addressing the Press, described the media as critical to the survival of democracy, saying no democracy thrives without free press.
The CPS further applauded Abia NUJ for their support to the state government.
In his lecture, the guest lecturer, Dr Sunny Mbazie, said the World Press Freedom Day is to create awareness to the world that freedom of the press and expression is a fundamental right that should be respected by member nations.
Dr Mbazie defined Press Freedom as the liberty to publish and for journalists to determine the content of their media without interference, adding that if the system restrains the right to publish, prior or post, then there is no press freedom.
While advising journalists to seize the occasion to remember their colleagues who have died or were jailed in the line of their duty, called on the Nigeria government to see journalists as custodian of information which is a public good, adding that government should help check the abuse on journalists, particularly from law enforcement agents.
The guest lecturer, however, called for a journalism rights commission to be set up, to protect practitioners from the gross violation of their human and press rights.
The event further featured an interactive session where journalists called for the protection of their welfare and rights.
