Commissioner Tasks Journalists On Training

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, has advised Nigerian journalists to update their knowledge through training.

The commissioner gave the advice in Port Harcourt last Friday at the presentation of scholarship awards to 20 journalists.

The scholarship award was instituted by Prince Emma Anyanwu, the Patron of Rivers State Council, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) for members of the union.

The commissioner who was represented at the occasion, by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Jokotade Adamu, said that journalism required regular updating of knowledge through training.

She said that constant training would enable journalists to be well informed about the society and commended Anyanwu for instituting the award for journalists in the state.

Seminitari urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the offer by ensuring that they did well in their various studies.

‘’I want to charge the recipients of this wonderful gesture. You are not just to collect the money and go and while away your time in whatever institution you are trying to get into.

‘’You are to go there and be very serious with whatever you are doing.

“That is the way the financier will appreciate that you have spent his money well,’’ she said.

In his remarks, Prince Anyanwu, said he instituted the N2 million scholarship award to assist journalists in the state update their knowledge in their profession.

“I was inspired to take this mission because of the thankless and hazardous services rendered by members of the NUJ in Nigeria.

“Many of you have gone through many pains in the process of your assignments, and nobody has come to say thank you.

‘’I am not here for you to thank me. I am here to reward your efforts, to encourage you, to share with you the pains you go through in the process of discharging your duties which is voluntary.

‘’ You earn nothing, your salaries are meagre. But you discharge your duties to the nation, to the state and to your family with joy,’’ he said.