COVID-19: Ex-Lawmaker Donates Cash, PPE To Imo Journalists

A former member of the Imo State House of Assembly, Mr Obulimba Ekeh, yesterday donated cash and other Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to journalists in the state as coronavirus palliatives.
Donating the cash and materials to different Chapels of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state, Ekeh said that the gesture was part of his contribution to safeguarding the lives of journalists in the face of the fight against the coronavirus.
He urged government and other spirited Nigerians to assist journalists at this critical moment.
According to Ekeh, who is the Chairman, Governing Council of the Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, journalists have played a frontline role in battling the coronavirus since it broke out.
He said as such members of NUJ should be encouraged “at this difficult time”.
“I am donating these palliatives today not because am too wealthy, but because I see journalists as also a vulnerable group.
“They are doing a great job in the society but are appreciated less.
“That is why I started this and I am calling on both government and corporate organisations to key into the idea,” he said.
Ekeh said every country in the world depended on journalists to get quality news and information as well as set agenda for government, as such, government should invest massively in media practitioners.
In his remark, Chairman of the Correspondents Charpel of the union in the state, Mr Steve Uzoechi said it was unusual for journalists to be considered as beneficiaries of such palliatives.

“I observed that as the ceremonial Fourth Estate, we are the only estate that does not get allocation and the only career line where 80 per cent of practitioners work pro bono (unrewarded).
“It is the only career where when workers are owed salaries, nobody protests the injustice and government asks no question,” he said.
Uzoechi, therefore, expressed appreciation to Ekeh for remembering to appreciate journalists as indispensable agents of development and for being among frontline professionals in the battle against COVID-19.
Our source reports that the palliative included cash, hand sanitisers, face masks, and detergents.