Anambra State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) recently celebrated her 35th anniversary which equally led to presentation of awards to some distinguished members of the union and others. Our correspondent, Okechukwu Onuegbu reports that stakeholders in attendance x-rayed the challenges facing journalism profession, including journalists and solutions for a better and responsible Nigeria.
Journalism, a profession anchored on truth, objectivity and responsibility, has been facing a lot of challenges in this generation yet the society still view them as alpha, just as many blame them as well as architect of the problems facing the world. In Nigeria, like other developing countries where social media has taken over almost their jobs amidst the challenges of information disorder, journalists are still expected to do wonders for massive socioeconomic development of the country to be activated.
To overcome these challenges, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), an umbrella body of practising journalists in the country has dedicated several training, workshop and conferences across the country to not just empower their members but also enlightened the public on their contributions to entrench responsible journalism. This also informed the decision of Anambra State Council of the NUJ led by Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu to assemble key stakeholders across the country to interrogate this and other issues at the Council’s 35 anniversary and man of the Year event at Awka, Anambra State council.
NUJ Anambra State Council was formed in 1991 following the creation of new Anambra State on August 27, 1991. This was led by an ad-hoc committee Chaired by Mr. Obi Meze, that formally handed over to an elected Chairman, Comrade Osi Nweke. Other Chairmen were late Comrade Dom Ekpunobi, Comrade Victor Agusiobo, Comrade Nathaniel Anigbo, Comrade Chris Aghanya, late Comrade Mrs. Tochukwu Udoji-Omelu, Comrade Henry Nwasike, Comrade Emmanuel Ifesinachi, Comrade Francis Ekpone and Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu.
Speaking at the event, the stakeholders who included religious leaders, academics, political leaders and captain of industries advocated for service-based, objectivity, truthful and responsible journalism as antidote to the country's developmental challenges amidst the nascent democracy, arguing that no country would survive without vibrant journalism capable of holding the leaders accountable.
The NUJ National President, Alh. Alhassan Yahya,, had while congratulating Anambra State Council for attaining 35 years in peaceful and responsible journalism, expressed concern over the poor remuneration and hazardous working conditions faced by journalists across the country, stressing that a standardised salary package was necessary to cushion the impact of economic hardship and protect the integrity of the Fourth Estate of the Realm.
Yahya also announced union-led welfare initiatives embarked upon by his administration to NUJ Health Insurance Scheme, and urged government support through provision of enabling environment, legislation and incentives that would help the journalists to perform their duties without fear or favour.
But the keynote speaker at the event, Rt. Revd. Ephraim Ikeakor, who is the Anglican Bishop of Amichi Diocese, argued that journalists need economic diversification to survive and thrive amidst the challenges because the society holds them in the highest esteem.
According to Ikeakor, ‘the struggle to remain unbiased while exposing corruption, bad leadership, and unethical conducts is a timeless battle that requires courage, precision, and an unwavering commitment not only to facts, but more importantly to truth because not all facts are truths, but all truths are facts.’
He added that "Any reporter who sacrifices truth on the altar of comfort, personal gain, and fat brown envelope is deadlier than a terrorist. Reporting the truth often comes with a price, and bravery and courage are surviving and sustaining tools. All journalists should understand that a journalist's greatest tool is not a pen, but a spine. So technical skill is useless without the bravery to publish dangerous truth.
"A responsible journalist checks facts, weighs sources carefully, and avoids bias to shape his story. Reporting with responsibility means telling the truth as carefully and accurately as you can, giving people a fair picture, and keeping your reporting independent from personal agendas, politics or pressure from interested parties.”
Ikeakor further urged Nigerian journalists to go beyond reporting of news and events by emulating their foreign counterparts in providing service-based reporting and journalism, which according to him, included establishing a robust, reliable, and up to date database on burning issues like political manifestos, judicial system, researchers and researches that serve the Nigerian Public.
"But the government at all tiers has a very great responsibility of granting and guaranteeing press freedom, freedom of information, and enabling environment for journalists, and media houses to operate and thrive. In a sane clime, there should be media subsidy, and media grants to journalists, and media outfits by government at all levels," he noted.
On his part, the Guest Speaker and a fellow, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Comrade Victor Agusiobo, posited that objectivity by formula was no longer enough and might not likely serve the ends of journalism in 2026 because 'content must change if we must adjust well to the journalism of 2026.'
Agusiobo, former Vice President of NGE, South-East added that "Our duty is not just to inform. It is to inform with purpose. It is not just to be responsible. But to be responsible for something. And 'so what?' is that something. We all do know that to see is news, to feel is opinion, to know is background. So what journalism is the product of that background. It is the journalism of consequence and of utility. It answers the only question the audience truly cares about: What is in this story for me?"
He further submitted that "Responsible journalism that chases only minutiae is well-mannered irrelevance. No democracy can survive without the press. A journalist has no business being ignorant in 2026. An ignorant journalist is obviously a terminal disease to the society he avows to inform.”
Also speaking, the General Secretary, Colleges of Education Academic Union (COEAU), Dr Churchill Okonkwo, who was Chairman of the event, commended journalists for interrogating public policies, amplifying voices, keeping the public informed, celebrating achievements and speaking truth to power.
"The journalist is often present where history is being made. When society celebrates, the journalist records it. When society is troubled, the journalist tells the story. When citizens need answers, the journalist asks the difficult questions. And when future generations seek to understand the events of our time, it is often to the records of journalists that they will turn. That is why journalism must never be regarded merely as an occupation. It is a public trust. But with that enormous influence comes an equally enormous responsibility. The journalist of today must therefore remain anchored on the timeless principles of truth, accuracy, fairness, objectivity, courage and responsibility. Technology may change the tools of journalism, but it must never change its commitment to truth," he stated.
To Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, represented by the Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr Law Mefor, journalism being the only profession explicitly mentioned in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), is irreplaceable in every democracy, hence the need to shun sensationalism which could lead to chaos.
“Yes, you must report the truth. But is there a way it should be reported so that it does not cause mayhem? When you say ‘people were killed’ and when you say ‘people were massacred’, there is a difference. That is all government is pleading for: report responsibly," he argued.
Earlier speaking, the host and Chairman of NUJ, Anambra State Council, Comrade Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu explained that the event was aimed at celebrating the success story of the union, while honouring some distinguished members and other personalities, including the 2026 NUJ Man of the year award winner, High Chief Martin Nwabuze ( founder of Ichie Akubudike Foundation for economic development.
FactCheckNg.com report that the event which was a grand finale of the 2026 press week also witnessed other categories of awards, including the winner of 2026 Professor Chinyere Okunna award for ethical journalism gifted to Ukpa Ewa of the State Information Chapel.