By Precious Oluwole

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, on Wednesday, held its 8th triennial national delegates conference in Owerri, Imo State capital.

The conference with the theme ” Media and Democracy: The Journalists Role In Holding Leaders Accountable” had in attendance about six hundred delegates from different media organisations across the States in Nigeria.

At the opening ceremony of the conference, Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma has tasked the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)’s leadership to brace up and address the frightening challenges posed by social media practitioners in spreading false information across the country.

Governor Uzodinma said information management is a difficult and important task that must not be left in the hands of those who can hardly draw a line between national interest and their selfish interests driven by inordinate ambitions

The Governor urged the Union’s leadership to urgently redefine members’ operational framework that would take into cognizance the activities of social media practitioners and how to rein in those he described as troublemakers who are causing grave damage to media practice in Nigeria.

According to him, it has become a huge cause for concern that the public can hardly draw a line between what constitutes news in the main stream media from what is being churned out from the stable of so-called internet influencers.

Governor Uzodinma, while noting that a strong local press is important for holding the leaders accountable, said an independent press is required to solidify Nigeria’s democratic process.

He said the media must hold the leaders accountable, but in doing so they must provide accurate news and be truthful in their reportage.

“The challenges are enormous. The rise of social media, fake news and disinformation are some of these issues. Here, I will recommend adequate media literacy, fact checking and responsible journalism.

He urged the leadership of the NUJ to step in to uphold the integrity of the profession. Ethical reporting must be emphasized, while there is the need to check disinformation”.

In his presentation, the Guest Lecturer and President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, tasked media practitioners to uphold the integrity of the profession, stressing that media owners must invest in the capacity development of their staff.

Dr Neliaku, who was represented by Professor Okey Ikechukwu, said constant capacity building and improved welfare would discourage practitioners from “selling out.”

While encouraging media practitioners to support their colleagues by remunerating them whenever they are invited for public speaking events, the Guest Speaker also recommended media literacy, curriculum development, ethical reportage as part of measures to solidify the profession.

In his valedictory speech, outgoing President of NUJ, Comrade Chris Izuguso listed his administration’s modest achievement to include upgrading the educational benchmark at the point of entry into the profession to boost public confidence in the integrity of practitioners.

He also said the Union has worked to that members of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) do not capitalize on the loose framework of existing media laws to enslave those they recruit into their employ.

The newly elected National executives of the Nigeria Union of Journalists are Comrade Alhassan Yahyah as the President, Mrs Abimbola Oyetunde, Deputy President, Comrade Victor Ndukwe, National Treasurer.

Announcing the results, the chairman of the electoral committee, Mr. Mike Iheagwu, declared the following votes: Comrade Garba Mohammed received 39 votes, Comrade Dele Atunbi received 97 votes, and Comrade Alhasan Yahaya secured a decisive victory with 436 votes.

In his acceptance speech, the new National President of NUJ, Comrade Alhassan Yahyah appreciated the members of the Union for their confidence in him, promising not to leave anyone out in his administration.

He pledged to collaborate closely with relevant stakeholders and uphold the professionalism of the journalism profession, emphasizing that “there is no victor, no vanquished.

Alhassan Yahyah who hials from Gombe State was before his emergence the deputy National President of NUJ.

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