By Patrick Albert
A year ago,
precisely on August 1, 2013, my leadership of our Union as the State Chairman
was given birth to, through your votes, so massively expressed, at the State’s
Triennial Delegates Conference/Elections of officers.
As I said in my
post election speech on that glorious day, the outcome of the election was
victory for all members of the Union, as there was ‘no victor and no
vanquished.’ And symbolic of the dynamism of our Union’s democracy, my
predecessor, Comrade Joe Effiong, whom I contested with in that election, as a
true democrat, was quick to accept the election results and he congratulated me
with a warm embrace.
That memorable
scenario and your continuing support and goodwill have kept invigorating my
zeal to offer the Union a leadership that is felt and seen positively, anchoring
on my missions and visions for the Union as promoted by the Rebirth Group which
campaigned for my election.
I recall that at
the inaugural State Congress held on Thursday, September 12, 2014 I said as
follows: “We have come with great passion; we have come with the best of
intention and we have come to awaken our mental resourcefulness to the very
dreams that we have had over the years.
“Before us is the
charge to go through and bring to fruition in greater dimension the dreams of
our past chairmen from the path finding role of Ini Mfon Udo – the caretaker
committee chairman to Namnso Umoren – the first elected state chairman and
subsequent successors – Etop Williams; Ikpong Essien-Udom; Innocent Okon;
Daniel Ekanem; Sunday Antai; Israel Umoh; Ephraim Etti and Joe Effiong
respectively.”
As twelve (12)
months have rolled by, it is imperative to look back as a measure of
reappraisal so as to ensure that the leadership continues to deliver on the
mandate. Let me quickly acknowledge the support and cooperation of the members
of the State Working Committee (SWC) and State Executive Committee (SEC) as
well as you all. I salute you all and solicit continued friendship, comradeship
and cooperation.
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| Elder Patrick Albert, NUJ Chairman, Akwa Ibom State |
Clearly, my mission
and vision as encapsulated in my manifesto was “To bring all journalists on board to
collectively restore the loss glory of our Union and rekindle interest, inspire
confidence and love among members. To unite journalists into a family that will
gradually become a formidable community in Akwa Ibom State polity; To create
opportunities that will enhance the welfare of members and make the Union, a
dynamic force to be reckoned with.”
Without
equivocation, this promise is being kept. Today, the Union is faring better.
The infrastructural renaissance at the Press Centre is obviously seen. We
started with the upgrade of facilities/renovation of the existing one-storey
building. The State Chairman, State Secretary, Treasurer and other EXCO members
now have offices, tastefully furnished. Both the Congress Hall and the Mini
Conference Hall have been improved and we have a functional Viewing Centre with
two (2) giant Television Plasma Screens. As you know, we were quick to
establish a website and an email address to boost our communications and ICT
compliance.
We are working
assiduously to provide an ICT Resource Centre for use by members within the
shortest possible time. From a 6 KVA Generator which we later upgraded to 10KVA, we now
have a 60 KVA and 150 KVA Mikano Generators.
Quite remarkable
also, is the donation of Five (5) Toyota Hiace Buses to the Union by the State
Government which we took delivery on Thursday, July 31, 2014. As you may recall, it was I, as
Chairman of Pioneer Chapel, that made the request for the Buses at an
interactive Dinner with the Governor on Thursday, January 17, 2013 at the
Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo. By providence, it is I also, now as State
Chairman who led other officers of the Union to receive the Buses.
Gentlemen, as you
may rightly know, most of these facilities are derived as a result of goodwill
and confidence which we have built with arms of Government, Institutions,
public functionaries and private concerns. Of course early in the year, we
attracted fifty (50) Laptops from Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Ibeno. We
hope to take delivery soon of 100 Laptops from the State
Government.
As can be
witnessed, construction of the perimeter fencing/Gate has reached advanced
stage. This was preceded with the clearing of the land by construction giants,
Julius Berger. That exercise and the fencing helped to finally secure our land
from trespass.
We have also made
progress with the construction of the Mini Club House for the
recreation/relaxation of members and we hope to complete this within the
shortest possible time and put to use.
We are happy that
our pet project, the Godswill Akpabio International Press Centre envisioned by
us, received a boost with the groundbreaking personally performed by the
Governor, Chief (Dr.) Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON, on Friday, July 4, 2014, who
also announced a support of N100million from the state government. The
Consultants for the project, led by Otto Trinity Group which designed the
buildings, are ready to commence construction as soon as possible. It is a
project that will completely change the fortunes of our Union and we call for
your continued support and cooperation. For the uncleared part of our land,
we have reached out to the Offot Clan Council for amicable resolution of the
seeming impasse with our host community.
Let me note
particularly, that we have improved public perception of the Media in the
State. At various fora, including Radio and Television live programmes, we have
brought to the fore the sacred role of the Press as spelt out in the Statute
books – Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act 2011, and other
International Declarations by the United Nations’ General Assembly.
The Press cannot be
wished away. The Media stands as the abstract cord that binds the society
together. It is within our professional purview to inform, educate, enlighten
and entertain the people.
The public depends
on us for news feeds. On the aggregate, what Press disseminates influences the
thinking of the people. Our relevance therefore to the health of the society,
places a huge responsibility on us all as professionals. The Code of Ethics for
Journalists is a useful guide for practitioners to assert themselves diligently
and to also stay within the rules. This golden document was collectively
midwived by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigerian Guild of
Editors, and other well constituted bodies like the Newspapers’ Proprietors
Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) and the
Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) respectively. It is worthy of note that these
bodies provide regulatory framework on media practice, professional standards
as well as on policy and welfare matters in the sector.
To protect members’
interest, we will continue to build workable cooperation with the Executive,
Legislature and Judiciary as well as Security agencies and major Stake holders
in the Akwa Ibom State project.
As the maxim is
that there is no absolute power; to wit, neither does a citizen, the government
or the Press has absolute power. We all exist to check one another. Where one
or an institution over asserts his power, then there is bound to be
overstepping of rights, which amounts to constitutional infringement.
So when we demand
others to be constitutionally minded, we all must also be professionally
minded. This is how to earn respect and be seen as sound professional
journalists. When we write with depth, subjecting reports to elements of
balance and fairness, fatal errors that could injure the health of the society
will be eliminated. Journalism of blackmail rather than demean the character in
reference; portrays the writer as a professional misfit.
As a responsible
professional body, we will continue to emphasise ethical standards. As part of
commitment, we have since coming on board, availed our members training opportunities
within and outside the State. We will continue to do it directly or by
partnering other institutions.
The new face of NUJ
in the State has brought with it huge responsibility from increase in
personnel, general administration and maintenance. We are accordingly re-adjusting with
innovations to meet this development.
We are happy that
members’ responses to Congresses and other events have kept increasing. A
purvey of the attendance records at Congress in the last twelve (12) months as
listed below, attest to this. The figures for 2013 are September – 148, October
-117, November – 136, and December – 129 respectively. And in 2014, we have for
January – 149, February – 163, March – 159, April – 197, May – 182, June – 182,
and July 190 respectively.
On the
welfare and professional needs of the Union, we have constituted various
committees – Ethics and Disciplinary, Welfare, Podium, Compendium, Chaplaincy,
to realize our collective aspirations. Already, we have a Choir. It will
interest you that a Forum of former Chairmen is about to be formally
established. This is to tap into the wealth of experiences of the former
Chairmen. As we move on, we will make further appraisal and generate ideas that
will continue to improve our fortunes and give us a unique image.
Together, we have
been able to move the Union this far and together, we will do the
unbelievable. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United
States, “I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to
keep on doing so until the end.” Thank you and God bless us all.
(Being a State of the Union address
delivered by Elder Patrick Albert, Chairman, Nigeria Union Of Journalists
(NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council at the State Congress of the Union held on Friday,
August 15, 2014).
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