By Emmanuel Uffot
On Monday December 4, 2023, hundreds of journalists in Akwa Ibom State, state commissioner for Information and Strategy, legislatures and top politicians trooped to the Multi- Purpose Hall of the Nigerian Union of Journalists ( NUJ) Press Centre along Information Drive off IBB Avenue, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State to witnessed the flag- off of this year’s edition of Press Week organise by Comrade Amos Etuk executive of the Union.
Delivering his paper on the theme : “Development Journalism : Setting the Agenda on Climate Change”, the Guest Speaker Professor Nsikak Benson, who is the Dean Faculty of Computer and Applied Science in Top Faith University, Abak, Akwa Ibom State painted a gloomy picture of the devastating effect of Climate Change bedevilling our environment specifically Nigeria and Akwa Ibom State.
The University Don who is a Professor of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, talked about Carbon dioxide emission by cars and wondered whether Journalists through their reportage have brought the menace of climate change to the fore so that those In authorities of power and the people could see it through journalists lense, what we are facing through climate change.
Prof Benson, pondered to throw a reitorical question to the media practitioners ” How do you cover the climate change to let people know that knowledge about its negative impact and how to go about it was good for their socio- economic well being”.
He therefore suggested the Media’s constant engagement with government on this, so that much is done on the environment to mitigate the ecological problems facing some states and communities in the state.
He pointed out that the Journalists have a big role to play in bringing these gloomy picture of the devastation of our environment. Noting that, that responsibility lies on indepth reportage of climate change.
Prof ” Please talked about it the way you talked about Ebola disease and Covid-19 pandemic because millions of Nigerians out there including the youths are not aware of the devastating effects of climate change on our environment and us”.
He urged the media to redouble their efforts the reportage of climate change so as to make the choice of this year’s edition of the NUJ Press Week in Akwa Ibom State worthwhile.
While declaring the NUJ Press Week open, the Speaker Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly RT. Hon. Udeme Otong who was represented by the Chairman House Committee on Information Honourable Jerry Otu harped on the cordial relationship that has existed between the media and the legislature which has helped in their effective functioning in the hallowed chamber.
He expressed his gratitude to the NUJ for inviting him as a Special Guest of Honour to declare the Press Week open. Hon. Otong while acknowledging the giant strides and commitment of the executive of the Union led by Amos Etuk pledged the legislature’s support to the Union whenever the need arises.
On the topic of the seminar which is on climate change, the Speaker said over the years the legislatures have been on the same page with advocates for addressing the problems posed by climate change, and emphasised that they will continue to do that in order to address the problem of the unseen enemy of our environment.
He therefore donated the sum of N500,000 as support to the Union.
Similarly, Honourable Otu who stood in for the Speaker also made his personal donation of N100,000 to the NUJ in Akwa Ibom State.
In his remarks at the kick- off of Akwa Ibom NUJ Press Week, the Chairman of the occasion, Senator Effiong Bob, who was represented by the General Manager Comfort FM Edy Ekpeyong extended his Goodwill to the Union on the occasion of their Press Week.
He acknowledged the fact that the media had over the years been his back bone in the course of his professional and political career, and enjoined them to keep up the good works of adhering to excellent and objective reportage, devoid of sensationalism and outright falsehood.
Although representing the Chairman of the occasion, Edy Ekpeyong noted for Y Connection in Cross River Radio before the creation of Akwa Ibom State, and speaking on his personal capacity as a Senior Journalist said the Union under Amos has done well but more still has to be done in the area of quackery.
He posed two pertinent questions for the media to reflect on while celebrating their week.
Edy Ekpeyong” How have you as professionals been able to contribute to the success of the administration?
How professional are you in your reportage?
Please reflect on this as you celebrate your week”.
While setting the tone for the beginning of the Press Week of the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of Nigerian Union of Journalists, Comrade Amos Etuk said the choice of the topic for this year’s edition of the Press Week and the period was very timely as it has afforded the the NUJ in the state the opportunity to join the global approach towards offering contributions, using the media to set agenda on climate change.
Amos said he was pleased that Governor Umo Eno was in the delegation of President Bola Tinubu as stakeholders world wide converged in Dubai to brainstorm on the issue of Climate Change.
He stressed that it was his conviction that participants at the NUJ seminar especially the media, will maximised what they derived at the seminar to help in strengthening the knowledge government got from Dubai to address the problem of climate change.
He re- emphasised the choice of the topic: Development Journalism: Setting the Agenda for Climate Change as very apt considering the fact that with the way things are going with rain still falling by December and no sign of harmattan, it was uncertain when next year planting season will begin.
The State Chairman, the seminar was a bold step on the part of NUJ to engage stakeholders on how the media and others could join hands to successfully set the stage to deliberate towards achieving the collective goals. Adding that the event serve as that starting point as questions are asked on how to curb the menace of the impact of climate change like, are they existence of a clear policy on climate change in Nigeria?, How prepared is the media in bringing this to the fore?, How many media Houses are on this subject ? ( Climate change), How many media Houses have this subject as their editorial policy? Why is the media not driving the positive change? How do we begin to get our members to give indepth reportage on this subject.
He disclosed that these are the issues that motivated the Union to arrived at the choice of that topic.
Amos noted that this was a challenge to the Union as the society expects more answers to these questions.
He equally emphasised the need to be constructive and objective in their developmental Journalism reportage.
Still on the troubling issue of climate change, the NUJ state Chairman said it was a long term agenda that attracts media attention, he therefore urged media practitioners to organise and plan information that will help in molding policies on climate change.
In his Goodwill message to the Union, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy Comrade Ini Ememobong extolled the leadership of Amos led NUJ particularly having enjoyed the best of relationship with the media ever since he assumed office.
He said the media had been a dependable ally to him and he is not taking that for granted that is why he had to shelved his tight schedule on returning from assignment overs to be present at the kick-off of the Press Week of Akwa Ibom State NUJ.
He pledged his office and government continues support and also tasked them to always imbibe the culture and ethics of journalism profession and developmental Journalism.
On the climate change, he said it was the duty of all to join hands to tackle the menace.
Ememobong frowned at the continuous gas flaring by a Multi- national company in Akwa Ibom State owned by a country that is leading the way In the campaign on global warming and climate change.
He therefore urged the media to take the gauntlet and bring this issue of gas flaring to the fore.
Raphael Edem, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, who also commended the NUJ under Amos made a presentation on the ARISE Agenda of Governor Umo Eno.
In the presentation he made on behalf of the department of Brand Management and Marketing of the office of the state Governor, he highlighted what the goals of ARISE Agenda were, the modest achievements of the governor so far and what he still intends to do in the coming weeks, months and years till the end of his first tenure.
Other Goodwill messages came from the state Chairman of NLC Comrade Sonny James and Ikpong Essien Udom, pioneer state chairman of NUJ in Akwa Ibom State, who spoke on behalf of past NUJ chairmen that were there namely, Innocent Okon, Joe Effiong, Israel Umoh and Sonny Antai.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Chairman NUJ Press Week Planning Committee Helen Udofa explained the importance of Press Week as an annual event for journalists to relax and unwind from the stress of new room. She noted that it has also become a tradition that in doing that, they choose a topic on national importance for members and invited participants to deliberate on and proffer a solution.
She said the choice of climate change was timely in view of the devastating effects of rainstorm and windstorm affecting some communities in Akwa Ibom State.
She stressed that as Journalists, it behoves on them to shape the discourse of climate change and proffer solutions on ways to go about it.
She used the opportunity to highlight on the activities scheduled for the 5 day event which started with the opening of the Press Week and seminar on Monday December 4, while a medical Outreach is slated for Day 2 being Tuesday December 5.
At the Outreach, members are to be tested for Blood Sugar, Hepatitis B, Blood Pressure and Body Mass Index.
Then on Day 3, there would be indoor games like Draught, Ludo, Scrabble, Chess and Table Tennis for members to test their proficiency, while Thursday December 7 being Day 4 will feature a Night with the Legend Ray Ekpu. An International award winning journalist and co- founder of Newswatch magazine.
The grand finale of the 5 day Press Week will round up on Friday December 8 with award/ dinner at the Press Centre which will have Governor Eno in attendance as Special Guest of Honour while former Speaker and former House of Representatives member, representing Etinan, Nsit Ubium and Nsit Ibom Federal Constituency Barrister Onofiok Luke will be the Guest of Honour.
Other notable guests at the function included Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information and Strategy Akparawa James Edet, House Member representing Ini State Constituency, Lawrence Udoide, that of Ibiono, Utibe Ukim, MD of Excel FM and Paul Bassey, Chairman of Akwa United Football club.
For many Journalists practising in the state and outside, without prejudice to past Chairmen of the Union, the Amos Etuk led executive who is in his second term has made significant achievements in infrastructure, capacity building workshop for members, award winning programme for members and hosting the first South South NUJ Confab in the state among others.
