NUJ president urges journalists on professional ethics

Ini Billie, Uyo

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Chris Isiguzo has tasked members with upholding the ethics of the profession.

Speaking at the weekend in Uyo during the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement award to Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, and Most Outstanding Commissioner in the South-South Zone to the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Ini Ememobong, Isiguzo urged journalists to uphold their role as watchdogs of the society.

Isiguzo who said the awardees deserved recognition from the Akwa Ibom State Council of the Union, for their remarkable contributions to nation-building, said the NUJ only rewards personalities on merit.

The National President explained that the State Council took out time to scrutinize the awardees, commended Ememobong for his intellect, humility, initiative and ingenuity, and described him as an outstanding commissioner.

“The government and the governed now look up to the Media, that is why we will not give recognition to just anybody. We take out time to scrutinize awardees, and I can say that these ones are deserving of the awards.

“Comrade Ini Emembong is one of the best Commissioners we have ever produced in the South-South. He is driven by intellect, humility, initiative and ingenuity. He is an outstanding commissioner,” he stated.

In a keynote address, Prof Godwin Okon of the Department of Mass Communication, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, described Ememobong’s honour as deserving and scored Akwa Ibom high on information management, media relations and ability to maintain a hygienic website for the state.

“The information management optics of the Akwa Ibom State government leaves much room for commendation and emulation. A participant cluster appraisal reveals that the state in the past eight years has not particularly been in the news for the wrong reasons.

“Approaches to government information management are multifaceted. While some derive from the literature, others from industry practice with yet another stream dovetailing within the framework of hybridization. That of the state seems to assume the hybrid colouration which allows for more than just a cursory glance while presenting a lesson curve.

“Maintaining a hygienic website

In the face of the social media blitz, the official website of the state becomes the first port of attention. Fortunately, Akwa-Ibom State evokes favourable imagery in the minds of many with Uyo becoming a destination point for conferences, workshops, and other ancillary programmes.

“Commendably, the official website of the Akwa Ibom State government, as revealed in the course of a recent study, is remarkably the best when viewed against the backdrop of the south-south states,” he stated.

Responding on behalf of the awardees, the Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, dedicated the award to his mentors and “all real journalists in Akwa Ibom State” and vowed to remain a journalist.

“I pledge that I will always remain a reporter and a journalist. It is the right way to go. This is indeed a valedictory honour and I want to assure you that whether in Government or outside Government, i will be a journalist,” he said.