*Gifts three 18-seater buses to NUJ, Association of Blind People
From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Wednesday, described as indispensable, the roles of journalists in the promotion of national unity and development.
Ganduje who stated this while handing over two brand new 18-seater buses to the leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and its affiliate, Kano Correspondents’ Chapel, said the gesture was in appreciation of the contribution of journalists towards promoting peace, unity and development in the country.
The Governor also donated one brand new 18-seater bus to the Association of the Blind People in Nigeria, describing them as very important segment of the society, despite their disability.
He particulaly praised the Association of Blind People for discouraging street begging and other societal ills, while promoting skills acquisition, formal education and self-reliance, seeing ability in their disabilities.
According to him, “there are various segments of the society, all of which have one thing or the other they have to do with the government which of you take them one after the other, the Nigerian Union of Journalists is one.
“The NUJ is a sector of the society that is important and plays a major role in governance through it’s professional task of news reporting and advise it gives which is very important on governance.
“We are providing them with this vehicle not because all of them are from Kano but because they represent national unity.
“I am particularly impressed with the journalists and their intelligence which they displayed during our last parley especially, on the issue of Almajiri which they openly detested.
“Therefore, among some of the issues challenging them in exercising their duty as journalists is lack of vehicle and that is why we are donating these buses to them.”
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, described Governor Ganduje as a media-friendly leader who has been supporting journalists during his days as Commissioner for Works in the military era.
Malam Garba, recalled that journalists in Kano are receiving such gesture from the government well after over 12 years.
In his vote-of-thanks, the chairman of the Kano Council of the NUJ, Comrade Abbas Ibrahim, appreciated Governor Ganduje for the kind gesture.
According to him, “I wish to on behalf of the state council and the Correspondents’ Chapel thank His Excellency, the Governor for this gesture. This is history repeating itself. It has been 12 years since we have had a bus because our bus is now 12 years old and in dilapidated condition.”
