Abakaliki, Nigeria – The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ebonyi State council, says it will honour the wife of the state Governor, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru, for her good works which have saved lives in the society.
The state Chairman of the union, Comrade Samson Nwafor, disclosed this in Abakaliki on Wednesday during a press briefing to kick-start this year’s press week.
He noted that the Nwifuru will be honored by the state NUJ during it’s press week scheduled for 3rd October, 2024.
The event, he said, would be attended by personalities across all sectors.
Nwafor said the theme of the 2024 press week – “Journalism Amidst Economic Uncertainty”, was informed by the worsening economic predicament in Nigeria which has badly retrogressed the growth and development journalists have witnessed in the Media Industry as a nation, prior to this time.
He described the press week as an annual event observed by journalists across the 36 states of the federation and FCT, Abuja, a period practicing Journalists take stock of their operations to know how they have faired in the year under review.
“It affords us the opportunity to underscore how our operations have impacted positively or otherwise on the society and how best to improve and move forward for the betterment of the society.
“It’s also a period we invite our friends from all walks of life to dine and wine with us, encourage and advise us where necessary.
“This year’s Press Week kicked off with the setting up of a 17-man Planning Committee, headed by Comrade Amechi Odo. This Committee is charged to do everything legitimately possible to give the Council a successful Press Week.
“In the last nine years plus, a lot of Media establishments have shut down across Nigeria, while others have resorted to offering skeletal services due to the ravaging bad economy which has made cost of living and doing businesses in the Country a hell.
“Sadly, the situation has resulted in a lot of Journalists and Media Practitioners losing their jobs while others still holding forth can no longer afford to feed very well, because they are either poorly paid or not paid at all.
“It has also become almost impossible for them to lay hands on operational gadgets, not to talk about the latest ones, for effective and efficient discharge of their constitutional duties like their counterparts in other countries.
“It’s against this backdrop that we seek to know through this theme the fate/future of the Media Industry in Nigeria amidst these obvious economic challenges.And we’re convinced that you will do justice to the topic.
“We strongly believe that the Keynote Speaker, Dr Chike Onwe, who is a senior Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Ebonyi State University, will do justice to this topic.
“The planning committee outlined the following activities to mark the week: Medical outreach onWednesday, 25th September, 2024, Friday, 27th September, 2024 – tour of key government Projects, and on Saturday, 28th September, 2024, interaction with the State to mark the event and the 28th anniversary of Ebonyi State creation.
“On Monday, 30th September, 2024, there will be a road walk to be followed by a novelty football match with Immigration Team at Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki.
“On Wednesday, 2nd October, 2024, we shall visit orphanages and old people’s homes. And on Thursday, 3rd October, 2024, is the grand finale, scheduled to hold at the Women’s Development Centre, Ezza road, Abakaliki.
“The Council, therefore, invites the general public and all lovers of the Media to join us on Thursday, 3rd October, 2024, to mark the grand finale of the Press Week,” Nwafor stated.
