….bequeates NUJ with a befitting Zone C capital.
From Maurice Okafor,Enugu.
In the past nine months or thereabout, the Nigeria Union ofJournalists(NUJ),Enugu state council office.located at No 4 Rangers avenue,Independence layout,is wearing a new look. The edifice which also serves as ‘Zone C’ is now cynosure of all eyes,aftermath of it’s reconstruction and furnishing by the current administration in the state,led by Governor Ugwuanyi.
Prior to Governor Ugwuanyi’s intervention, the structures at NUJ Press center,Enugu,were outdated with leaking roof and an eyesore to remain a zonal capital for over two decades.
It’s former ugly state for twenty years did not stem on the fact that previous leaderships of the council did not make requests to previous administrations in the state whether military or civilian,but the truth of the matter was that none of them cared to alleviate the burden for Enugu state council,NUJ.
Unfortunately,the parent body of NUJ at Abuja national headquarters,could not help out since the Media in Nigeria as a union has no budgetary allocation neither from the federal government or from the respective state governments,where it’s state councils are domiciled.
Amidst the fact that the media is acknowledged as the ‘Fourth Estatet of the Realm’.taking after the Executive, Legislaure and Judiciary especially in a civilian administration, the Media in Nigeria always go ‘cap in hand’ to the Executive and others,to solicit funds to execute most of it’s projects which often are for public good.
From all indication, Both the National leadership and Enugu state council,Nigeria Union of Journalists(Nuj),will ever remain grateful to Governor Ugwuanyi for bequeating a befitting modern edifice for the union in Enugu.
‘Action speaks louder than voice’.The ultra modern multi million naira reconstruction of(NUJ) Enugu state council by Governor Ugwuanyi as he promised,was completed within nine months and has been officially handed over the current leadership of the Enugu state council(NUJ),led by Comrade Sam Udekwe,for activities encompassing general welfare of journalists in the state.
Checks revealed that the enabling peaceful and humane environment enthroned by Governor Ugwuanyi since the past years in Enugu state,has enabled the media industry to thrive in the state. There are avalanche of Private Radio houses,stationed in the state in the past three years,broadcasting and disseminating information on how best they can reach and sustain their target audience,without any known record of meddlesomeness or interference from governmen officials.
The Print Media practitioners who are mostly correspondents of National dailies and online publications not stationed in Enugu,attests to the fact that none of their colleagues have been dragged to court based on story lines even when it is not in favour of the state government,querried or rough handled by any alleged sympathisers of the state government etc,.
To mention, there is an on going training on digital communication for members of the Correspondents’chapel,Enugu State Council,facilitated by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. The Correspondents chapel in Enugu state,currently owns a standard bus,donated to the chapel by Governor Ugwuanyi.
Obviously, the friendliness and facilities enjoyed by the Media in Enugu state under Governor Ugwuanyi are relatively cordial and welfarist,even though the practitioners are clamouring and expecting more like the fictional Oliver Twist demanded”I want some more”.
It is interesting to note that Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration is sustaining the state owned print media publication outfit,’Daily Star’ amidst the crumbling economic situation in the country, which has compelled many state governors to close down their own traditional print media outfits.
The saying’Half bread is better than none’ is applicable to Daily Star. It is currently publishes periodically but there hopes it’s system will soon be rejuvaned to enhance commercial printing, so to generate enough funds to cater for operations of the organisation.
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The state owned Enugu State Broacast station(ESBS) and Enugu Television(ESBS/Televion are thriving to survive, with the support from Governor Ugwuanyi led administration in the state.
