The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, has urged the newly inaugurated executive of the Society of Practising Television Cameramen (SOPTCAM), FCT Chapter, to prioritise professional training, embrace emerging technologies and uphold ethical standards in broadcast journalism.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Saturday in Abuja, Ike congratulated the new leadership on its election, describing the occasion as a significant milestone for the association and a defining moment for broadcast journalism in Nigeria.
She said the rapidly evolving media landscape requires practitioners to combine technical competence with ethical journalism, creative storytelling and digital proficiency to remain relevant and competitive.
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The NUJ FCT chairman reaffirmed the council’s commitment to partnering with SOPTCAM in promoting capacity building and raising professional standards within the media industry.
According to her, the union is ready to support initiatives that will enhance members’ skills and improve their welfare.
“The union is prepared to support workshops, certification programmes, digital upskilling and advocacy initiatives aimed at protecting the welfare of members and improving professional development,” she said.
She encouraged members of the association to embrace continuous learning by acquiring skills in emerging technologies, digital content production and distribution, multimedia storytelling, visual ethics and workplace safety.
“We encourage you to prioritise continuous training in emerging technologies, digital production and distribution, safety on set, visual ethics and multimedia storytelling,” Ike stated.
She also urged television cameramen to adopt digital workflows and leverage online platforms to create new opportunities for innovation, audience engagement and sustainable revenue generation.
The NUJ chairman expressed confidence that the newly elected executive would provide purposeful leadership, fostering unity, professionalism and measurable progress for members and the broader broadcasting community.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected Chairman of SOPTCAM FCT, Mr Ekundayo Femi, described the inauguration as a historic milestone, noting that it marked the emergence of the association’s first democratically elected executive committee in the Federal Capital Territory.
Femi expressed gratitude to the national leadership of SOPTCAM for its guidance throughout the electoral process, as well as to the Electoral Committee for conducting what he described as a transparent, credible and peaceful election.
He said the new executive accepted its mandate with humility and a strong sense of responsibility, stressing that the confidence reposed in the leadership was a collective trust to advance the welfare, dignity and professional standing of practising television cameramen in the FCT.
The chairman unveiled a six-point agenda centred on professional development and training, members’ welfare and healthcare, discipline and ethical conduct, institutional unity, transparency and increased visibility for the association.
“Our lens has captured Nigeria’s story for years. Now it’s time we focused the lens on ourselves,” Femi said.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of SOPTCAM, Comrade Olugbenga Adejuwon, urged members to regard television camerawork as a professional enterprise by building strong personal brands, maintaining integrity, investing in quality presentation and producing compelling visual stories that reflect Nigeria’s realities and achievements.
He further advised members to establish strong digital platforms, honour contractual obligations, meet production deadlines and continually improve their creative skills to remain competitive in the rapidly changing media industry.
The inauguration marks a new phase for SOPTCAM FCT as the association seeks to strengthen professionalism, improve members’ welfare and position practising television cameramen for greater impact in Nigeria’s evolving broadcast and digital media landscape.
