By Our Reporters
The President, Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo, has commended The AUTHORITY Newspaper, Enugu Bureau Chief, Comrade Maurice Okafor, for his ability to articulate a 26 page lecture note out of his experience in journalism and tasked him to reproduce the lecture note into a book for formal presentation to members of the public.
Chief Isiguzo, who was in Enugu to superintend over the South-East Media Summit held on Thursday September 29, availed him the opportunity to equally attend the special lecture delivered by Comrade Maurice Okafor, as part of activities to mark his over twenty years in active practice as a print journalist.
The lecture with caption, “Two Decades of Active Journalism(My Pen and My Pains), Mass Media Practitioners: Friends or Enemies’ was delivered to the members of the public at Filbon Hotel Ltd, Upper Chime, New haven, Enugu, as a measure of cementing relationship among Journalists, who are often perceived as enemies in the cause of exposing the bitter truths behind issues, as the ethics of the profession entails.
Chief Isiguzo listened attentively and was amazed with the intellectual expository of the various norms of the profession with regards to ethical standard which entrusts practising Journalists the task of objective truth and sacrifice in the interest of the society, but often such noble obligations from the part of Journalists are misinterpreted as if the journalists are merely out to rock shoulders with the concerned authority.
The NUJ boss disclosed that in conjunction with Nigerian Guild of Editors(NGE), NPAN and other professional bodies, the Union is working hard to see how the unjust treatment against journalsts discharging their noble duties ameliorated and as fourth estate of the realm, better appreciated.
He further concurred with the lecturers view that the Mass Media and Mass Media Practitioners are the social agents through which the universe has become a global village, whom services are vital at every minute of the day for the sustanance of some other sectors but the practitioners are neglected in our clime.
The AUTHORITY, South-East Editor, Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, who is the Chairman of Ansmbra State Council of the NUJ, appraised the diligence of Comrade Maurice Okafor. in articulating the lecture which he desctibed as an academic exercise.
He also advised that the lecture notes should be repackaged into a book format and formaly presented to the public and thereafter sold in bookshops.
Earlier in his speech,the chairman of the event, Prof. Emma Ogu, appraised the role of journalists in information gathering and dissemination.
Comrade Maurice Okafor expressed gratitude to his printers, friends and colleagues for their words of encouragement.
He also expressed his gratitude to Prof. Ogu, Prof Godsmark Eddy Ugwu and Hon (Dr.) Anayo Onwuegbu for their advice and logistic supports, which enhanced success of the event.
