Actualising a rebirth for NUJ in A’Ibom State BY PATRICK ALBERT

The groundbreaking ceremony to commence the construction of the Godswill Akpabio International Press Centre has indeed been eagerly awaited. Its fruition today will hold an incomparable significance in the calendar of events of our great union. We say therefore with a very humble heart, To God be the Glory!

 Let me hasten on behalf of the leadership and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, to welcome His Excellency, Chief (Dr) Godswill Obot Akpabio CON, for honouring our invitation to perform this groundbreaking ceremony.  We also welcome all our guests for honouring our invitation to witness this epochal event.

Your Excellency, our national president, distinguished guests, let me give a brief insight into the Godswill Akpabio International Press Centre. After the August 1, 2013 State Triennial Conference/Delegates Election that ushered us into office, we initiated the process to upgrade the Press Centre.   With a land size of 1.409 hectares, we saw the need to utilize it for the building a worthwhile International Press Centre. Here, we are in an uncommon era under the leadership of a man who believes that any infrastructure today in Akwa Ibom should be the best or among the best in the world in terms of design and quality.

To begin with, we had to secure the services of one of the best architectural firms in the country – Otto Trinity Studios. The firm effectively brought out our vision by designing a masterpiece. The first phase of the project includes the Perimeter Fencing/Gate House, Mini Club House, A-1000 Capacity Auditorium, A2-Storey Office Complex and a Club House with recreational facilities.  The designs have since been completed with the bill of quantities. The cost for the project is a little above N1.5 billion. The second phase includes a- 25 Bedroom Guest House, etc.

Your Excellency, by concept and uniqueness of design, this is going to be another Uncommon Transformation Project. Throughout Nigeria, no NUJ State Secretariat has the design concept and capacity as our envisaged complex. We were influenced by the rising profile of our state as an emerging destination in the sub-Saharan Africa. With the Olympic-sized Stadium soon to be inaugurated in the state, local and foreign journalists will be attracted to the state during tournaments or sporting meets and the Press Centre is ideally the place to hobnob. 

Another interesting aspect of the envisaged Press Centre project as an intellectual environment, is the Media Museum it will accommodate. Visitors or researchers will be able to utilize our Media Museum to access basic information about our state. The profiling will cover human and material endowments as well as infrastructural attainments. The 2-Storey Office Complex will in addition to basic facilities, have a-300 capacity ICT Centre. 

Your Excellency, from our previous discussion, you have given us your word to ensure the completion and commissioning of the complex within your tenure. You decided to do this, not just because the project is named after you by NUJ, but because the envisaged International Press Centre fits into your component features to shape up Akwa Ibom State as a destination point and a model city and our architects have really peeped into your mindset to offer a unique masterpiece.
This event has again proved that you are a friend of the Press. As a dynamic profession, the Press is often very critical. And we must acknowledge your understanding and cooperation in your relationship with us. Let us reiterate that we are fully supportive of your administration. It could be recalled that on December 22, 2011, our State Council decided to honour you as our Grand Patron at the Civil Service Auditorium.  

Quite remarkably too, on Thursday, October 10, 2013, the NUJ at its State Congress passed a resolution to name this secretariat: Godswill Akpabio International Press Centre. We took this step to further amplify our cooperation and to register on the sands of time, as our eternal gift for your memorable and impactful leadership. 

Few weeks ago, our State Council inaugurated an Editorial Committee to chronicle a book – Medals of Performance – an indepth commentary and collection of articles on the governor’s good governance and uncommon transformation of our state. The book is to be presented to the governor within the last quarter of this year or first quarter of next year. These gestures clearly demonstrate our appreciation of the performances of your leadership in the state and the successful completion of the Godswill Akpabio International Press Centre will certainly be the consummation of our relationship.

Your Excellency, please permit me to remind you of the construction of the Information Drive as already captured in this year’s budget. We also appeal for the release of the five (5) buses earlier promised us. 

Also, we humbly seek the implementation of the 22.5 per cent weigh-in allowance for all journalists in government media establishments, including those in the Information Directorate of the Ministry of Information and Communications, as already implemented by the Federal Government and in some states of the federation. Another request very close to our heart is the need to appoint qualified journalists as permanent secretaries. As the Fourth Estate of the Realm, we appeal for government support in aid of our programmes as we are yet to be on subvention.  

However, we wish to express our profound appreciation to the government through Mr Aniekan Umanah, Commissioner for Information and Communications, and Pastor Anietie Ukpe, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, for the cooperation we have received at various times. We also commend the Deputy Governor, Noble Lady Valerie Ebeh, the speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Elder Sam Ikon, and some members of the State Executive Council for their support, particularly on the last World Press Freedom Day and in the establishment of the NUJ Viewing Centre.

Let me say that we are equally committed to the well-being and development of Akwa Ibom State. We will continue to utilise the enormous powers that we wield as the society’s watchdog to advance the unity, well-being and development of Akwa Ibom State.

Let us specially commend our president, Malam Mohammed Garba, and his entourage for coming to witness this event. We have enjoyed the cooperation of the national secretariat of NUJ. We are happy that the president of NUJ, in his magnanimity, considered the appointment of our son, Mr Uwem James, as an assistant national secretary in the headquarters, Abuja.

 On ethical standards, we had, few days ago, issued a statement to clarify our position to let members of the public appreciate our responsibilities constitutionally provided and for our members to be reminded of our sacred commitment to professionalism and concern for peace and tranquillity of the society. It is our emphasis for our members to abide by our code of ethics. We have lined up workshops for our members locally and internally. We hope to have the required support in this regard so as to put our members in shape on professional responsibilities.

We assure the Akwa Ibom public and government of our preparedness to create the needed template of cooperation as we approach the 2015 general elections. In this regard, we are ready to partner government as well as relevant agencies in fostering peaceful electoral processes in the state, nay the nation.

Your Excellency, may God bless you and keep you to a successful and glorious completion of your tenure. God bless us all.

-Being an address by Elder Patrick Albert, state chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, on the occasion of the groundbreaking ceremony of the Godswill Akpabio International Press Centre on Friday, July 4, 2014.