By Chioma Abigail Mbah
The two day activities packed 2023 NUJ Anambra State Council Media games has ended with a call on journalists to be fair always in their reportage to promote national unity.
This was the highpoint of speeches made during the closing ceremony of the event at the Godwin Ezemo International Press Center, Awka and during the flag off at the ABS field Awka.
Traditional ruler of Umueri,Igwe Benneth Emeka, MD/CEO Arnold and Associates, a leading land estate firm in Anambra, Hon Arnold Chukwuebuka Ekweoba, and a veteran journalist/CEO of Nigeria Communications Week, Mr Ken Nwogbo stated this during the NUJ 2023 media games event in Awka.
Activities for the second day of the year event kick started with walk for life which saw members of the council who defiled morning rains on that day and trekked from the Press center to Arroma junction and back to the Press Center.
Afterwards, games like eating competition, drinking competition, tug of war, skipping among others featured where State Information chapel took first position in eating and drinking competition and five chapels including the ABS, state Information, Moment FM combined, took the first position in tug of war.
Addressing journalists, the Chairman on the occasion, Mr Ken Nwogbo , The Publisher/CEO of Nigeria Communications Week, said such activities are needed to keep body and soul healthy.
He thanked the NUJ executives led by Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, PhD, other organisers and sponsors of the event for deeming it fit to put such activities for the health benefits of the members.
On his part, the major sponsor of the event, Hon Arnold Chukwuebuka Ekweoba said he decided to sponsor the event because of the long lasting relationship he has with journalists as according to him, he was able to make it in life through stunning publicity given to him at no cost then by Obinna Odogwu of the Sun Newspapers and later other journalists.
Hon Ekweoba went down memory lane on how he climbed the ladder of estate management and promised to train interested Anambra journalists free of cost in estate management business.
Hon Ekweoba urged media professionals to use their media power to liberate themselves and promised to train interested journalists for free in the business of estate management.
He charged journalists to venture into other money making businesses to diversify their means of revenue generation especially in the face of economic challenges in the country presently.
This is coming as journalists and Nigerians have been called to embrace sporting activities and exercise for overall well-being and healthy living.
The traditional ruler of Umueri, Igwe Benneth Emeka made the call while performing the ceremonial kick off of a novelty match between the NUJ team and Catholic Priests from Awka and Ekwulobia dioceses at the ABS field, Awka Anambra State during the 2023 NUJ Anambra State Council media games.
Igwe Emeka stressed that the media and other professionals should engage in sports and keep fit at all times despite their busy job schedule, noting that exercise plays a vital role in the overall well-being of every individual.
The traditional ruler of Umueri, Igwe Benneth Emeka, who made the ceremonial kick off, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of both teams, and noted that exercise plays a vital role in the overall well-being of every individual.
He added that such events willl help to promote harmonious co-existence between both teams and by extension benefit the society at large.
The novelty football match between the NUJ and Catholic priests from Awka and Ekwulobia dioceses ended in 1-1 draw, after Catholic priests took the lead in the first half through Reverend Father Uche Ogwata, while the NUJ team got a late equalizer after a fantastic finish from Stephen Okoye.
The chairman Nigeria Union of Journalist Anambra state council, Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, said event which is an annual event is an opportunity to journalists to come together and enjoy themselves, even while ensuring sound health.
Dr Odogwu appreciated all who made out time to be part of the program and thanked especially Igwe Ben Emeka of Umueri and Hon Arnold Chukwuebuka Ekweoba for partnering the union.
Dr Odogwu stated that sports speak uniformity, as it has become an efficient strategy for building stronger partnership among media practitioners.
He explained that the essence of the game was also to harness talents in different sporting areas, in preparation for national competitions and urged everyone to put in their best to make the event a success.
Chairman of the organizing committee, Dr Stanley Onunkwor, appreciated all who contributed to the success of the 2023 games. He stressed for media professionals to engage in sports and keep fit at all times despite their busy job schedule.
Dr Onunkwor informed that the 2023 media games featured fifteen competitions and thirty winners.
He commended fellow colleagues for their show of love to the tournament, and equally urged them to live a healthy lifestyle by making exercise part of their daily routine.
The match which attracted members of both groups, witnessed good spirit of sportsmanship at the novelty game.
Other games that featured at the novelty match include egg race, sack race where the state chairman of NUJ, Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu PhD came first and Secretary of NUJ, Comrade Aloysius Ofodile KSJI came second, one hundred metre race, bottle flip, among others.