Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
August 7, 2017.
The President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Waheed Odusile
has called on the media to scale-up military and government activities
in the post-insurgency period of reconstruction, rehabilitation and
resettlement of two million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in
Borno and the North-East sub-region of the country.
Odusile made the call on Monday at the Combined Press Week of the
Borno state council of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) at
Government House, Maiduguri.
He said as peace gradually returns to Borno and North-East, the media
and other humanitarian donor agencies to continue support federal and
state governments in their reconstruction and resettlement processes.
The Press Week which has the theme: “The Role of the Media in Post
Conflict Rebuilding in Northeast, Nigeria,” also marked the
presentation of merit awards to Dangote Foundation, Federal Ministry
of Defence, and United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)
with conferment of NUJ merit awards.
While three media houses, Vanguard Newspapers, the Borno Radio
Television (BRTV) and Daily Post online; were honored with NUJ merit
awards for dedicating highest news coverage to reconstruction of
communities and livelihoods for the print, broadcast and online media
categories.
“The media is going through a critical time at this moment just like
any other organizations. But I assure that the NUJ under my leadership
will continue to fight for the welfare, training and retraining of
journalists so that the country will not be in danger,” said Odusile
Chairman of the Borno state NUJ council, Baba Sheikh Haruna said that
the council, has over 200 working journalists in the state
He noted that the Press Week which is supposed to be an annual event
was off the banner in the last three years due to activities of Boko
Haram in the state.
Haruna was impressed with efforts of Borno state government, military,
other security agencies, media and other humanitarian actors for
degrading the insurgents and to restore relative peace.
“The NUJ had the opportunity to celebrate it’s 2014-2017 Combined
Press Week, because of gradual return of peace to Borno,” he said.
Other recipients of merit awards include, Dangote Foundation for being
the highest private sector donor in supporting Borno in its trying
moments, UNHCR as the highest foreign based contributor and the
Federal Ministry of Defence for its coordination of Peace Building
efforts.
Others awardees he said, were Borno State Radio and Television (BRTV)
in the categories of broadcast, as well a Daily Post, in the online
categories.
He congratulated the recipients, and thanked Governor Kashim Shettima
for his support to NUJ, and promised that the existing cordial
relationship will be sustained, particularly at this critical period
of post conflict era of reconstruction and resettlement of displaced
persons.
The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, on behalf of Nigerian Army
thank NUJ for the Sealed Platinum Award and promised that the Ministry
will continue to support security agencies end Boko Haram and other
terrorists activities in the northeast.
He appealed to media practitioners to desist from dishing out
information that lowers the morals of troops in the theatre of war.
“The media should continue to cooperate with our security forces so
that we can make our country peaceful and great,” said Dan-Ali.
Chief Executive of Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou, pledged that
the Foundation will continue to support Borno state as part of its
corporate social responsibility. The Foundation also donated N5
million to Borno NUJ.
Governor Kashim Shettima thanked all the recipients and congratulated
them for the Awards which have so far distinguished them among their
peers.
He said, despite the security challenges, the government through the
Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR)
under the Commissioner, Professor Babagana Umara Zulu, was able to
massively embark on reconstruction of destroyed public and private
infrastructures in 15 council areas of the state.
He paid glowing tributes to journalists working in Borno state whom he
said, defied threats and fears in filing reports that attracted world
attention to the insurgency in Borno and Northeast.
