Courtesies.
It gives me joy to once again welcome all of us to yet another Press Week of the Kogi State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) despite the challenges faced by the Council and its members, we are here gathered again to celebrate the end of another Journalistic year.
It is the practice that we set one week aside annually to take stock of what we have been able to do as a body in the year ending and also strategize on what we will intend to do in the preceding year.
The period of the press week also provides the opportunity for us to thank Almighty God for the protection over our lives and that of our families. That is why the programme kick-started with special prayers and thanksgiving in Mosque and Church.
We are particularly grateful to Almighty God for saving the life of Emmanuel Adeyemi, the Sun Newspaper Correspondent who was shot recently on the way to the Press Centre on Monday 26th October, 2020.
In the looting that preceded the EndSars protest the NUJ members and our Secretariat had no issues because we are not located close to any of the ware houses and the looters had no business coming around here. Unfortunately, the gunmen that took over the town on that fateful day drove pass through our Centre and shot into our premises.
Thank God no one was hit but our colleague, Emmanuel who was on his way to the office was shot by some people the Police described as unknown gunmen. Thank God, a successful surgery was done on him and he is fast recovering.
This year’s Press Week will not be different as we have carefully chosen a topic that will contribute to the body of knowledge and also provide answers to Nigeria’s quest for diversification of the economy.
The topic of this Year’s Press Week is “Inland Water Transportation: the untapped potential in Nigeria’s economy”. We have also carefully chosen an academic per excellence, Doctor Anthony Ali of the Department of History and International Studies of Federal University, Lokoja to do justice to the topic.
Permit me to use this medium to identify and thank those who have supported and still supporting the Council under my leadership. I therefore, thank our own Dr. Victor Alewo Adoji who is one of the recipients of our award today for his support to the Council.
The seed money of N500,000.00 with which we started the NUJ revolving loan was donated to us by Dr. Victor Adoji.
We also express our gratitude to Inland Waterways Authority for being a traditional supporter of the State Council. We are most grateful to the management and staff.
Equally, the Council wish to appreciate and thank the Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Right Hon. Prince Matthew Kolawole who has been very supportive of our programmes, he also recently supported NAWOJ, our women wing in the organization of its last election. Above it all, the Hon. Speaker has promised to add a structure at the NUJ Press Centre, to be known as Rt. Hon. Matthew Kolawole Chalet Annex. It is our hope that by the next Press Week, we will have the honour of inviting His Excellency, the Executive Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and our amiable National President to commission the project.
The contribution of the Hon. Commissioner for Works, Engr. Abubakar Ohere who donated some set of chairs to the Council is also appreciated.
Many thanks also to the Rector, Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja, who is my brother and school mate, Doctor Usman Ogbo for standing by the Union through various supports.
This is not the time to make fresh requests from government as we are still waiting for the fulfillment of all the promises made in the past. We wish to therefore remind His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello of his promise to renovate the colonial building at the Press Centre, made about 4 years ago.
Only last year, at the National Executive Council meeting of the Union in Lokoja the Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja who stood in for the Governor at the programme also made a promise of donation of 18 seater Bus to the Union within three (3) months.
He also promised to resume the partnership assistance approved for Radio Nigerian and NTA by previous government in the State.
With all these promises still hanging, it is no longer wise to make fresh demands.
We appeal that the government take a second look at all these promises and do the needful.
To our other invited guests, we wish to appeal for assistance to actualize our plan to expand the NUJ Clinic. The Clinic today provides medical services not only to members but other people within the environment.
The speech would be incomplete if I fail to recognize the fatherly role of our national President Chief Chris Isuguzo and the Zone D Vice President Chief Wilson Bako, in ensuring peace and stability in the Council. We thank you for being there for us at all times.
Finally I deeply appreciate the support and cooperation of our past leaders, all Chapels Leaders and indeed all the members of the Council. Without your support the journey would have been a tough one. Once again, I say a very big thank you to you all and and above all, I pray for God to richly bless you all.
