NUJ Loses 13 Journalists, In Three Years

Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), has lost 13 journalists in the past three years.

The figure was made public last Thursday at the fifth Triennial Delegates Conference held in Port Harcourt.

Presenting a report tagged,” Secretariat Report of the Fifth Triennial Delegates Conference and Election of the Rivers State Council, ‘’outgoing Secretary of the body, Mr Job Stanley Job noted that the number was quite alarming and prayed God to save Rivers NUJ from untimely and premature deaths since “death is a necessary end ‘’.

He listed those who passed on to include the former General Manager of the Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation, Elder Eriye Iyaye, famous reporter and later Publisher of Beacon Newspaper, Minere Amakiri, a former Reporter with the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Mrs Ibiba West, Publisher of Verite Newspaper, Jose Pere Jeremiah, and the passage of publisher of Weekly Star Newspaper, Mr. Kobina Owei Sikpi in a recent event.

Others are popular TV Hostess, Kpeseme Opuwari, George Onah of Vanguard Newspaper, David Ofonwa of Independent Monitor, Jeinbratoa Johnbull and John Ogbede amongst others.

Mr. Stanley said aside the tragedy that befell the union, the body also experienced professional growth as journalists were appointed into political positions such as the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, the Chief Press Secretary, Mr David Iyofor and others.

The body equally conducted training and retraining of journalists in different professional programmes and media capacity workshops.

According to him, the period under review witnessed the donation of a N2million Education Endowment Fund by Prince Emma Anyanwu, including the provision of 50 laptops computers to members in partnership with Exxon Mobil..

Meanwhile, Prince Tonye Princewill has pledged N2.5million to the new executive of the NUJ as a take-off grant.

The leader of the Princewill Political Associates said the gesture was geared towards transforming the journalism profession in Rivers State and support in the activities of the body.

In the same vein, Grand Patron of the NUJ, Oba of Ogba land, Sir Chukumela Nnam Obi II tasked the body not to relent in its watchdog role in society.”