From Chidi Asonye, Umuahia
Journalists have been urged to level up to the callings of their profession at all times just as the have been once again reminded of the need for thorough investigation of their stories before going to press.
Professor Onyemachi Ogbulu, Vice-Chancellor of the Abia State University, Uturu gave the charge when the executives of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Abia State Council paid him a courtesy visit in his office, even as he had congratulated the new Comrade Victor Ndukwe-led executive on their successful election.
He reminded them on the importance of exercising restraint in the rush to publish stories about government, institutions, organizations or even individuals to sell their papers or promote their blogs without ascertaining the authenticity of the stories.
According to the Vice Chancellor,
inaccurate and divergent reports regarding the kidnap incident involving an ABSU student sometime ago by different newspapers, without proper investigation was unprofessional even as he had admitted that journalists, especially NUJ, Abia Council are veritable partners in progress, and should also deploy the same energy to report the ever increasing positive development in the citadel of learning.
Promising cordial relationship with NUJ, especially in training and retraining of her members for better efficiency, Prof. Ogbulu
revealed that the Mass Communication Department of the university has now been unbundled to various specialized programs that will be of great interest to media practitioners.
Speaking earlier, the NJJ state Chairman, Comrade Victor Ndukwe, congratulated Ogbulu on his appointment as the 8th substantive Vice Chancellor of the University, and urged him to sustain the standard of academic excellence the University is known for over the years.
He expressed the desire of NUJ to partner the University in the training and retraining of journalists, and work with the administration to promote its activities.
In a vote of thanks, the National Ex-official member representing South East, Ezeogo Boniface Okoro, expressed optimism that the visit will further solidify the relationship between journalists and the University, and thanked the Vice Chancellor and his management for the warm reception.
