……Tasks Media Practitioners On Professionalism
By Waheed Adekunle, Osogbo
The Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said for whatever reason, media remains the fourth estate of the realm that should be accorded due respect by all in the society.
The Governor also charged media practitioners to always uphold the principle of fairness and objectivity in their reportage.
Aregbesola gave the charge while delivering a key note address at the awards and family day ceremony of the on going press week of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State Ministry of Information Chapel held at the SUBEB conference hall, Osogbo.
The Governor who was represented at the occasion by the Commissioner for Information and strategy, Mr Adelani Baderinwa tasked journalists in the country to prioritize the journalistic ethics and standard in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities in the country.
Congratulating the awardees, Aregbesola stressed that journalists must begin to portray themselves as the watchdog of the society which they are.
Speaking further at the programme which had the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdulrasheed Olabomi as the father of day, Aregbesola said his government will continue to create an enabling environment for journalists to work and thrive, adding that a condusive environment is highly important for the job of a journalist.
Aregbesola who commended the efforts of state information officers on at propagating the activities of the present administration, called on journalists in the country to help shape the country on the right path of development.
The state helmsman stressed that the efforts of journalists in national development can not be overemphasised .
Earlier in his remarks, Chairman House Committee on Information and Strategy, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye pledged the House’s support and collaboration to journalist in the state.
He called on the media practitioners in the state on the need to be watch dog of the people and society, saying “once media is asleep the society is dead”.
Oyintiloye while assuring journalists of full support said the present administration in the state views journalists in high esteem.
He said, “As chairman of the House Committee on Information and Strategy, I owe it a duty to journalists in the state to always protect their interests.
Echoing similar gestures, the Director General of the OSBC, Mr Wale Idowu while congratulating members of the state information chapel told the recipients of professional awards to rededicate themselves to job.
He urged them to show commitment to the job as a means of showing appreciation for being singled out for honour.
In an address, the state NUJ chairman, Comrade Abiodun Olalere, expressed gratitude to the Governor Rauf Aregbesola for always showing support to journalists in the state.
While congratulating recipients of individual awards, Comrade Olalere urged them to see the awards as that of the Nigerian Union of Journalist, hence the need to always portray themselves as good ambassadors to the union.
He used the occasion to call on journalists in the state to take the opportunity of the on going biometric registration to get registered for them to continue to remain as journalists in the state.
Special guest of honour at the occasion, Mr Benedict Alabi encouraged journalists to be more proactive on the job, while urging them to endeavour to portray the country positively to the outside world.
He noted that Nigerian journalists have a lot of role to play in the unity and progress of the nation, stressing that Nigerians can only tell their good story themselves.
Coordinating Director in the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mrs Femi Webster Esho while congratulating the awardees urged them to keep up the good job.
Awardees at the programme include: the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin Aroyinkeye 1, Special Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Olubisi Odewumi and Alhaji Ridwan Haussain popularly known as Yah Sallam.
Recipients of professional awards are: Mrs Toyin Adeoye who was awarded the Information of the year, Mrs Martha Adebiyi, Studio Engineer of the year and Mr Sunday Omonijo was awarded the Photographer of the year.
Other professional awards include the visual editor of the year, Mr Olalekan Rasaq and Mr Francis Odejobi who was given the award of Graphic artist of the year.
Highlights of the occasion was a special recognition award to the three departments in the chapel which include; the News and Public Relations, Social Mobilisation and strategy as well as the Grassroots and Public Enlightment
Activities of the press week will be rounded up on Friday with a Jumat service at the Abere central mosque.
