A Female Journalists, Miss Hajara Leman from the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, has re-emerged as the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, for a second term of three years.
The Chairman of the Gombe State NUJ, Mr. Sa’idu Bappa Malala, swore in Miss Leman alongside three other members of the executive of the chapel, Mr. Peter Uwumarogie of NAN, as the Secretary, Mr. Abdullahi Idris of Voice of Nigeria, as Treasurer and Mr. Rabilu Abubakar of Aminiya-Daily Trust Newspaper, as the Financial Secretary.
Inaugurating the newly elected members of the Correspondents’ Chapel, the Gombe State Council Chairman of the NUJ, Mr. Malala, commended the maturity of all members, in which the emergence of the new exco was conducted through consensus and without any hitches.
Mr. Malala challenged members of the Correspondents’ Chapel to exhibit professionalism in the conduct of their constitutional role, because the public expected a lot from journalists, especially with the stage being set for the 2023 elections.
“I want to assure you that we will always support professionalism in our bit to ensure that we develop journalism in the state. But we will not relent in ensuring that the best is done from the profession, in the sense that, we will not allow journalists to be partisan. ….. We should make sure that we are always objective in all our reportage so that together we can lift the profession to a greater height,” Mr. Malala said.
In her acceptance speech, Miss Leman pledged that under her leadership, she would ensure responsible journalism, where the correspondents would practice the profession with dignity, integrity and utmost respect for the NUJ constitution.
The chapel Chairman hammered more on the need for members to discard fake news, hate speech and any reportage that could cause damage to society.
“I must also use this opportunity to remind journalists in the chapel, …… to be mindful of the era we are in, especially going into 2023 general election. Fact-checking every piece of news should be our habits, to ensure that we don’t become purveyors of fake news or ‘toxic’ journalism that damages society and widen the gap of distrust between journalists and the people we are meant to serve,” Miss Leman said.
The chairman of the Electoral Committee, Mr. Haruna Gimba Yaya said the successful conduct of the election was hinged on the task of getting everyone in the chapel to own the process, by uniting them and ensuring that no spirit of disunity was allowed to creep in, while seeking for the counsel of members who served in previous election committees.
Mr. Yaya equally called on all journalists in Nigeria to ensure professionalism in the discharge of their constitutional role of journalism, so that Nigerians would get the right leaders in the right places.
“As journalists, we must maintain our professionalism. You must not be bias, in terms of religion, region, or tribalism. As journalists, we must guide the electorate to make the right choice to vote for the right candidate, irrespective of the part of country, religion or tribe you come from. That’s how Nigeria will be better,” Mr. Yaya added.
Confidence Okwuchi
