It is no news that the State Working Committee (SWC) alongside various Chapel Executives and selected members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State chapter paid a condolence visit to the Deputy Governor of the State, Noble Lady Valerie Ebe on the demise of her mother, Mrs. Patricia Paul Bassey last week Wednesday. However, the relationship the NUJ members created with the Deputy Governor is what I must commend and this kudos goes to the present administration of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by Elder Patrick Albert.
Since the present NUJ Exco emerged on August 1st, 2013, the NUJ chairman, Elder Patrick Albert has tried to draw the government’s attention to the Union and vice-versa. To some members of the body, the idea of visiting the Deputy Governor was to have a chat with her and extract money from her afterwards but it was indeed surprising that the Deputy Governor considered the visit as an honour given to her by members of Fourth Realm of the Government.
The Deputy Governor, Lady Valerie Ebe, while receiving NUJ members commended the leadership of the Union for the support she has enjoyed so far since she joined the government. In her words “I’m so happy today with the caliber of members of the pen and paper profession paying me a condolence visit. Your coming here is not to cry but to rejoice with me because my mother lived a good life while on earth”.
The Deputy Governor while inviting journalists to the burial which will take place on the 9th of November, 2013 described her mother as good mother who, while alive, cared and prayed for her success at all times and the prayers, she said, have often made her excel in life. She promised to direct the entire request made by the NUJ to the State Governor Chief Godswill Akpabio.
Earlier in his speech, the NUJ State Chairman, Elder Patrick Albert said the visit was to commiserate with the Deputy Governor on the passage of her mother, Late Mrs. Patricia Paul Bassey as the NUJ family was deeply touched by the incident and prayed to the Almighty God to give the Deputy Governor and the members of her family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. The NUJ head also said that the members undertook the visit as a measure of the favourable disposition of the Deputy Governor and her office to create the needed ambience for mutual cooperation after the State NUJ Triennial Delegates Conference/Elections on August 1st, 2013 which ushered the new exco into office.
While thanking Lady Valerie Ebe for granting the NUJ the visit despite her crowded schedule, he assured the No. 2 citizen of the State that the gesture will be reciprocated by members of the Union. In his words “Her Honour, we wish to use this occasion to formally appreciate the immense contributions that you have made under various platforms to uplift the value of womanhood, the family and the society generally”.
In addition, the NUJ Chair commended Mrs. Ebe on her excellent performances since her assumption into office. He described as history, her ability to occupy the office of the Deputy Governor since she is the first woman in the state and in the South-South zone to attain such height.
The chairman informed the Deputy Governor that the NUJ’s administration led by him has come at a time where the Akwa Ibom public is expressing serious concern on the quality of media practice in the state, adding that Journalism is a noble profession and as a responsible council, the state working committee have been challenged to ensure quality news reportage by enforcing strict compliance to the Code of Ethics by every journalist and every news medium. Elder Albert also used the opportunity to seek the support of the Deputy Governor’s office to help the profession by organizing workshops that will help to sharpen the professional skills of members as well as inculcate greater values on moral and ethical standard; stating that the NUJ as a body will readily rise in defense of any of its members who is unjustly maltreated for discharging due professional duty.
The Deputy Governor was informed of the NUJ council’s decision to celebrate her with a befitting award of the Delight of the media at the forthcoming first ever NUJ family Day themed: “Building a Responsible Society through Responsible Reportage”. The event, according to the NUJ chair is to recreate and strengthen family values within the members as well as infuse greater sense of responsibility in the society. The event will also inaugurate formally the Akwa Ibom Journalists Wives Forum and the Deputy Governor will be inducted as matron.
Patrick Albert formally informed Her Honour of the proposed model press centre. The centre which will have world-class structure and facilities of standard to further promote the image of Akwa Ibom State will be named after the Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio and will serve as a worthwhile testimony for the Governor after leaving office and visiting journalists from other parts of the country and the globe at large.
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