- Holds walk, launches foundation
Journalists deserve adequate protection to practice their profession of giving information to society, guests at The Nation Foundation event said yesterday.
The Nigerian Union of Journalist (Lagos State council), Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso and eminent scholar and influential columnist Prof. Adebayo Williams insisted during the maiden event organized by The Nation Foundation that the protection of journalist is crucial to the development of the society.
They spoke during the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI), a United Nations event which was instituted 10 years ago.
The Nation Foundation marked the event at the headquarter of The Nation in Matori Industrial Estate, Mushin, Lagos simultaneously with the making of the Day at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“Many journalists work without protection. The safety of journalists is a human right issue and public interest matter. When journalists are harassed, not only are their lives threatened, it takes the public to know their rights.
“Impunity remains a huge problem. The need for a stronger framework to protect journalists is more needed now than ever. The government should provide necessary things that will safeguard journalists when they are on the field. We as journalists are the ones suffering this impunity. We call for total press freedom to help journalists in doing their work,” Lagos NUJ chairman Leye Ajayi said.
He was represented by a delegation led by Vice Chairman Philip Nwosu.
The takeoff of The Nation Foundation was a twin event, a walk around Matori by journalists and the symposium.
Omotoso said: “I do not see why journalists should be attacked for whatever reason. Nobody is attacked doing his job. Nobody attacks the driver when he’s doing his job. Nobody attacks a doctor when he is doing his job. Why is it that a journalist who has just come to report all these people is attacked?”
He added: “Lagos guarantees freedom of the media. It hosts the largest concentration of the media with 63 radio stations, 13 television stations and 18 newspapers, among others. They are all free to practice.”
He commended The Nation Foundation for marking the IDEI and its lofty plans as enumerated by Secretary of the Foundation Board Mr. Lawal Ogienagbon.
The foundation board chairman, Prof. Williams, promised that the organization will be unique.
He said: “We are going to make it a unique foundation. We’ll be very much interested in providing more education for practicing journalists through exposure to long- and short-term courses, locally and internationally.
“This Foundation is also concerned about the safety of journalists in crises and emergencies.
“There is a lot of hazard in journalism, and we thank God that we are also survivors. We are at the threshold of our career and winding up. We look forward for you (young ones) to succeed us and the best way is for you to be well-trained and that is why this foundation is very important, and I want to congratulate the brains behind it and to thank everybody once again”.
An executive of the International Press Centre (IPC), Melody Akinjinyan, canvassed for training of security men in handling emergencies, especially journalist covering such assignments.
She said the research by the IPC has shown that security men are guilty of attacks on journalists during emergencies when the journalists are performing their responsibilities of reporting such events, to inform the public.
The Nation Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Victor Ifijeh, said the media should uphold democracy and not under guise covertly or overtly canvassed otherwise.
According to him, there is no alternative to democracy, adding that whatever lapses are associated with democracy can be corrected.
Explaining the mandate of The Nation Foundation, Ogianegbon said the non-profit organisation will engage in causes beneficial to humanity, focus on core issues such as environment, gender discrimination, out-of-school children, poverty index, neglected impoverished communities in rural and urban areas, capacity building, and campaign for adequate policies/laws to govern the structures above.
During the walk which took off from The Nation headquarters, participants re-echoed that free press remains fundamental to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.
They bore placards with different inscriptions to sensitize the public to the need to protect journalists. Some of the inscriptions on the placards read: “Wanted: law to protect journalists”; “Journalists lives matter”; Journalism is not a crime; “Stop the illegal detention of Journalists”, others.
The marching group, wearing the foundation T-shirts bearing the theme of the event, shared leaflets with members of the public.
A member of the board of the foundation, Mrs. Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo, a one-time editor of Sunday Times, and a member of the media Ombudsman, joined the team.
Also, there was treasurer of the foundation board, Mr. Sunday Adeleke, and Ifijeh.
Editor of The Nation Adeniyi Adesina, Lagos NUJ council Executive members Laide Awosanya and Alaba Igbariola also attended the symposium.
Members of the Strategy Team that mid-wived The Nation Foundation, Sunday Oguntola; Joseph Jibueze; Precious Igbowelundu; Alao Abiodun; Olatunji Ololade; Kunle Akinrinade, Evelyn Osagie and Programme Officer Ademola Oyeledun got commendation for their contributions.