In an unexpected turn of events, reporters were unexpectedly denied access to cover the senate plenary by the sergeant-at-arms of the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Without providing any explanation, a sergeant-at-arms stationed at the entrance to the gallery, the area where the public and journalists observe the proceedings, erected a barricade, effectively preventing entry.
By Odo Ogenyi, Uyo
The National Association of Seadogs, Atlantic Shores Deck (Eket Chapter) has called on Akwa Ibom Governor-Elect Mr Umo Eno, to uphold press freedom and protect the rights of journalists and media practitioners in the State, as an essential condition for the sustenance of democracy and its dividends.
In a statement to mark this year’s World Press Freedom Day endorsed by the Decks Cap’n, Utibe Ikot and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Wednesday, the association said they remained committed to the entrenchment of a just and egalitarian society where human dignity is upheld, irrespective of tribe, religion, or creed.
It reminded the incoming administration in the State of the need to respect their commitment and uphold their obligation to press freedom; and also provide an enabling environment for journalists and media practitioners to practise their chosen profession without fear of intimidation, threats, blackmail, imprisonment,
“This is imperative because the press provides the platform for a multiplicity of voices to be heard. At both the national, and state level, it is the public’s watchdog, activist, and guardian as well as educator, entertainer, and contemporary chronicler. Press freedom is an essential pillar to any democracy, especially that of an emerging democracy like Nigeria’s.
“Hence, to maintain its role as a watchdog and a check on government, society and business, the media must remain vigilant and committed to the truth which requires a commitment to rigorous fact-checking, independent reporting, and a willingness to challenge the powerful.
“Freedom of the press is a fundamental right that is essential to the functioning of a democratic society and the maintenance of other human rights.
“As the eyes and ears of the public, journalists must be able to report upon matters of public interest without fear of arrest or other forms of interference.” The statement said.
It however regretted that press freedom, even though enshrined in the Constitution has continually been elusive, as it has been hindered by several factors ranging from obnoxious legislation such as the Cybercrime Act, secrecy, legal pressure, monetary inducement by politicians and other interested parties, intimidation and blackmail by state and non-state actors.
“Furthermore, the Nigerian media importantly lacks statutory institutional back-up to support media practitioners and journalists in the dispensation of their duties as the ‘4th Estate of the Realm’, and grant them access to information, and insulate them from threats of intimidation.
“Therefore, to further strengthen press freedom and consequently, free speech, there is crucial need for increased public awareness of the nexus between press freedom and the other human rights, including the promotion of transparency, accountability, and democracy.
“The public also needs to be conscious of the imperatives of protecting the rights of journalists and ensuring that they can operate without fear of censorship, intimidation, or violence while holding the government continually accountable for their commitment to press freedom.
“The National Association of Seadogs, Atlantic Shores Deck (Eket Chapter) therefore salutes the doggedness and resilience of all conscientious journalists and media practitioners; and pays a glowing tribute to those journalists who have sacrificed their comfort, safety, and even lives in the exercise of their profession.” It concluded.
By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The WASH Media Network Nigeria today commences a two – Day training for 25 Journalists on pitching writing in WASH related issues.
National Coordinator of WASH Network Nigeria, Mr. Olawale Elekolusi, who opened the training said that the aim is to train journalists on how to access grants and funds for their stories and to help them to improve in delivering their message as the fourth estate of the realm.
Olawale said, ” At the end of the training it is expected that all participants would be enhanced to write perfect pitch that will attract grant on WASH.
A resource person, and Media personality Olajide Adelana in an interview with journalists said that story pitching is an important aspect as one of the things that differentiates.a good journalist.
Be said , “Story pitching is about a lot of research that will affect the content of a.story if journalists want to get grants from any organization.
He added that this is necessary because research is the bedrock of writing good stories.
Adelana said, pitching is a skill that needs to be learned, adding that journalists need to be taught how to write convincing stories for their stories to be funded.”
in a presentation on, ” How to Write Compelling Human Angle stories on.WASH said that good pitching boarders on health, livelihood, and wellbeing of people. He advised that compelling stories start with emotion, fear , grief or sense of triumph.
He, however, advised pitchers not to share too much of their, but to be precise and straight to the story ideas.
From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Chairman Kogi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Adeiza Momohjimoh has called on journalists in the State to “guard against being used by politicians who may be out to run down the government of Governor Yahaya Bello for whatever reasons.”
The Council chairman urged journalists to let the ethics of the media profession take the Centre stage in their practice, noting that falsifying reports was criminal and that Governor Bello had performed very well.
Comrade Adeiza Momohjimoh, who made the call at the 2022 NUJ Press Week in Lokoja, emphasized the importance of truth in journalism practice stressing that it is unprofessional to report a story from only one perspective.
At the ceremony, the Union recognised the efforts made by the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello, especially in the health and education sectors, and bestowed an award of exemplary performance on the Governor.
Discussing how the Governor earned the award, the Chairman said, “We did not just decide to celebrate Governor Yahaya Bello, some steps led to it. As a team, we embarked on a tour of public projects in education and health; we visited State-owned universities; we visited CUSTECH and the GYB Model Schools, and the members of the union were all very impressed with what we saw in terms of infrastructure.”
“The next day, we visited Kogi State Specialist Hospital and we saw the impact the government has made in terms of infrastructure. We saw the remodeling of the hospital, the administrative block and other units put in place by the Yahaya Bello administration.”
The NUJ Chairman explained, “What fascinates the NUJ executives and its members is the state of the art reference hospital in Okene and the General Hospital in Gegu – projects initiated by the GYB administration in its second term.”
According to him, “the only way to register the commendation of journalists in the state is to publicly bestow an award on him for infrastructure revolution in health and education sectors in Kogi State”.
From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Chief Executive Officer and the Editor-in-Chief Stallion Times, Isiyaku Ahmed on Thursday in Lokoja charged Journalists to ensure people living with Disability gain prominence in the mainstream media that would influence national action towards disability.
Ahmed gave the charge in his opening address at the training workshop for journalists on disability reporting in the media Organized by Stallion Times Media Services Ltd., the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, and the MacArthur Foundation, held at Riverton hotel, Lokoja.
According to him, the training is under the Participatory Governance and Media Literacy project tagged “Get Involved, Dialogue and Improve (G-DRIP)” being implemented by Stallion Times Media Service in Kano and Kogi states.
He said the G-DRIP is in collaboration with the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism under the Collaborative Media Project (Collaborating for media independence and government accountability), with support from the MacArthur Foundation.
“The importance of the training cannot be over emphasized because of the common and negative stereotypes of persons with disabilities which have penetrated the public, the media, and the governance eco-system in Kogi and other states of Nigeria.”
“Objectives of the workshop is to train journalists to report on PwDs issues in ways that highlight their concerns on everyday happening. To build the capacity of media practitioners in disability-inclusive reporting with the hope of prompting government action for improved service delivery. ”
Ahmed pointed out that despite the challenges the media faces in terms of funding and poor capacity, the media is in a unique position to reshape the public image and improve the living condition of persons with disabilities through research and proper reporting of critical issues that affects disabilities in Nigeria.
“It is in recognition of your contribution towards promoting Gender and Social Inclusion in governance and driving professionalism in the media space that we have invited you to this knowledge transfer training, share experience, participate actively, learn and report these issues to make the state a better place for the minority and marginalized groups.” He added.
He said the idea of the training is to provoke positive action that would amplify and make good issues of disability in Kogi state and Nigeria through investigative reports.
From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Stallion Times Media Services on Thursday in Lokoja trained 40 practicing journalists in Kogi on ‘Disability Reporting in The Media’ to boost their efficiency in giving adequate publicity to the physically challenged within their areas of coverage.
The beneficiaries were drawn from across the print, electronic and social media practitioners within Kogi state.
The One-day training workshop has three main objectives to achieve which includes; to ensure that journalists were equipped with rudiments of reporting on the persons with disability issues, to engage journalists to report issues in ways that highlights the concern of the physically challenged and to promote issues focussed on giving desired publicity.
In his welcome address, the Project Coordinator of the programme, Isiyaku Ahmed, said that the target is aimed at giving equal opportunities to both the able bodied and the physically challenged citizens in media reportage.
“The disabled citizens need to be carried along in the scheme of things especially giving them the desired publicity as well as issues around them to attract government’s attention” Ahmed emphasized.
The project coordinator therefore, reminded the trainees on the need to make judicious use of the opportunity to improve upon their standard of reporting disability issues.
A Consultant with Stallion Times Media Services who is also a resource person for the training, Anselm Okolo described the social responsibility roles of journalists as very sensitive and tasking.
“What you do as journalist is sensitive and difficult adding that the job is not meant for the lazy and the unintelligent. What you do is very important to the society. To succeed in journalism practice therefore, you must be hardworking and be ready to even do extra jobs.” Okolo admonished.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Kogi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Adeiza Momoh-Jimoh thanked Stallion Times Media Services for the opportunity of the training in critical area of reporting disability.
Participants were lectured on objectives and expectations in reporting disability, social inclusion of persons with disabilities in Nigeria: challenges and opportunities, disability laws in Nigeria: how effective? and the overview of disability issues in Nigeria respectively.
By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto
The ceremony organized by USAID under MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics was conducted at Shukura Coral Hotel,Sokoto.
The 2day correspondence meeting has the objectives as to improve understanding of health media correspondence on Fistula FGM/C,Safe Surgery in Caesarian delivery as well as to outline key issues and recommendations for media reporting and secure commitments from media correspondence on support to reporting.
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Isah Bajini Galadanci said it was a good idea involving newsmen in the awareness of the dangers of fistular among other things to be discussed.
Represented by the Director Information Services, Alhaji Sani Gosta, the Commissioner commended them for using health topics especially those that affect women in labour which if not attended in good order can cause many infections and may eventually lead to death.
The representative of the State Hospital Management Board said they are working hand in hand with the agency to inform the public of the dangers of fistular, its causes and prevention of its occurrence.
Chairman Sokoto Correspondents Chapel,Malam Harisu of NAN as well commended them for involving all Correspondents and promised wider publicity as far as this topic is concerned.
Presenter MOMENTUM Safe Surgery Project Manager,Dr. Kabir Atta said complications may include depression, infertility,and social isolation , the underlying mechanism is poor blood flow to the affected are for a prolonged period of time and that the diagnosis is generally based on symptoms and may be supported by use of methylene blue among others.
The general aim is for journalists to enlighten the general society on dangers of malnutrition especially on pregnant mothers.
By Joyce Babayeju
THE Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, Lagos State Council, on Thursday, condemned in strong terms the alleged attacks on residents of Journalists’ Estate, Arepo Ogun State by a resident association in conjunction with the Olu of Arepo, Oba Atanda Oyebi.
The journalists alleged that the threats have been happening for a number of years.
Lagos NUJ Chairman Mr Adeleye Ajayi in a statement called on Ogun State governor Dapo Abiodun to speedily intervene in the crisis to avoid loss of lives.
Ajayi noted that immediate intervention by the governor would prevent a breakdown of law and order and prevent miscreants from perpetrating evil under any guise in the estate.
Earlier on Wednesday, the residents of Journalists Estate Phase One Arepo, under the auspices of Journalists’ Estate Residents Development Association (JERDA Phase 1) sent a Save Our Souls Message to the governor over the matter.
A statement made available to newsmen by Mrs Olufunke Fadugba, Chairman JERDA Phase 1 and Mr Toye Olori, General Secretary, JERDA Phase 1 in Arepo, Ogun State, noted that the threats had now turned to direct invasion with the regular invasion of the estate by the alleged attackers.
“On Tuesday, February 8, 2022, over 50 BERA residents, led by one Mr Emmanuel Akudinobi, including some chiefs from the palace of the Olu of Arepo, invaded our estate and destroyed our entrance arc, located at the point of security access into our estate.
“After an initial discussion to prevent the destruction, it was jointly agreed to meet with the traditional ruler later in the day to discuss the issues and resolve the matter amicably,’’ the statement read.
According to the statement, it took a strong restrain of JERDA members and some elders in the estate, for the invasion not to degenerate into a full-blown skirmish.
“However, after a while, thugs, armed with cudgels, in the company of some chiefs and the said Emmanuel Akudinobi, came back from the palace of the Olu of Arepo, where they boasted to have received the order to destroy the arc installed by JERDA Phase 1 with millions of Naira belonging to our members.
“They first set about the arc with axes and diggers, to weaken the foundation and seeing that it was not bulging, they then drove an Ayab Truck over it to bring it down violently.
“The steel arc is a new one in replacement of the initial one that gave way for the road construction currently going on.
“The replacement of the arc was after due approval from the State Ministry of Works and under its thorough engineering supervision,’’ it added.
The new arc was installed on Tuesday, February 7, 2022, with due notice to relevant authorities, including the Police at Warewa Police station and the Ogun State Ministry of Works as well as Ministry of Physical Planning.
“The approved installation was witnessed by an Ogun State Ministry of Works assigned engineer and inspected later by a senior official from the State government and it was confirmed that we followed due process and specifications as approved by the state
“The chiefs, who accompanied the crowd of thugs, openly boasted that the Olu of Arepo gave BERA members and his chiefs the directive that the arc should be destroyed.
“The reason given, among others, was that we did not pay “homage” to the palace, before erecting the arc and that *No* other authority can override that of the Olu of Arepo.
“The estate arc has been at this landmark point since the inauguration of the estate in 2003 and delineates the allocated perimeter approved by the Ogun State Government. The location of the arc also serves as a security outpost for the estate and has been instrumental to warding off security threats not only to our estate but also members of BERA,’’ the statement explained.
The residents of Journalists Estate recognised the progress made so far, by the Ogun State Government at ensuring the upliftment of lives of residents of Ogun State with the current massive rehabilitation of the Journalists’ Estate Road in Arepo as a major signpost of these giant strides across the state.
‘We would like to put the government on notice of those who have an aversion to peace in this community and maybe working against efforts of the government to protect the lives and property of citizens.
“Beyond our control, the population growth in Arepo, buoyed by the constant influx of young people from all parts of the country, is becoming a resting reservoir to communal violence and destruction that may thwart the efforts of the state government.
“This is a Save Our Souls message to Your Excellency Sir and the State Government, that a situation, where the Olu of Arepo will be the arrowhead of criminal destruction of property with contumacious impunity, is a threat to peace and lives of citizens and must not be allowed to stand.
“The Olu of Arepo cannot be at par with the government of Ogun State, from which permission was sought and obtained to install the arc.
Reacting, the Olu of Arepo, Oba Atanda Oyebi in a telephone conversation with Vanguard has distanced himself from the allegation saying, “I don’t know why my name is linked to the matter.”
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Kaduna State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has rolled out new welfare packages For it’s members.
Presenting the package at the maiden Congrss on Wednesday, the new council executive chairman Hajiya Asmau Y. Halilu said the core essence of the package is to put members welfare interest above all other interest first.
The chairman however explained that only members who’s regular in attendance and active In the Union activities would be accorded priority attention.
Initiated and articulated by the council executive, the state secretaries and chairmen (SEC), and approved by the state congress on Wednesday, the welfare package would also be extended to care for the interest of the veteran journalsts and retirees.
Presented by the new chairman of welfare committee of the counci, Mr Shindon Bala, the council stated that hospitalized members and disaster encountered situation journalsts would henceforth be assisted by the council welfare.
“In an effort to keep record of our stewardship as welfare committee, we have designed a template to help us operate successfully by Liaising with the EXCO in the performance of our duty and delivering on Its campaign promises to members.
“Below are some of the consideration of the first line of action as welfare packages and funding sources determine by this very committee
“Welfare sugestss N100,000 for the family of any deceased member approved. This is aside any assistance that will be donated by members to console with the family.
“Welfare will make sure any sick member whose situation results to hospitalization is assisted but the affected member must report his/situation to welfare who will visit the affected member to access the situation in other to liaised with Exco on the issue of such a member.
“Welfare will make sure any member whose property got missing or destroyed by disaster is assisted, but the affected members must report his/Her situation to welfare who will visit the affected member to properly identify with the member.
“Welfare decided that any member who attain retirement age will be assisted with N50,000 package but such a member must give 2 months notice to the committee before the time of actual retirement.
We intend to commence this task by Month of may this year.
For all of the above mentioned welfare packages, the member must be a regular congress Attendee and also be active in NUJ activities.
“There shall be welfare package set aside for Veterant/elders for the sake of encouragement and being togetherness”, they said.
On other deliberations, the Council agreed that “Only duly registered members who are in recognized Chapels will benefit from any proceeds, and those prove productivity.
“This will enable the Council/ Committee monitor members with regards to the payment of Check off dues and other necessary levies/ fine etc due for the National, State Council and chapel to be remitted”, it stated.
From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Journalists against violent extremism (JAYE) has been Inaugurated in Kogi and Nasarawa states.
The group works to sustain the achievement of the SARVE 2 project in the various communities through their reportage and other media programmes aimed to promoting peace and development.
JAVE is a technical working group comprised of about 30 journalists from Kogi and Nasarawa states, trained by ActionAid Nigeria as part of its implementation of the
System and Structure Strengthening Approach Against Radicalisation to Violent Extremism (SARVE 2) project in both states funded by the Global Community Engagement Resilience Fund (GCERF.)
It also focuse on promoting behavioural change among youth and women through strategic communication to reduce their vulnerability to extremist ideologies.
The group is being coordinated by
Muhammad Bashir and Berikisu Iye Abdullahi in Kogi, while Isaac Ukpoju and Patience Jacob coordinate in Nasarawa State.