NUJ plans functional website for journalists

• Union also to digitise activities

Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Abuja Council has concluded arrangements to open a functional website that will accommodate all practising journalists in the Federal Capital Territory. It is also set for full digitisation of its activities at the council in line with global best practices.

Chairman of the council, Paul Ella Abechi told The Guardian yesterday in Abuja that these would eliminate quackery within the profession in line with International best standards of journalism profession.

Abechi said, “other advantages of the projects are meant to promote the importance of technology to the profession and consolidate its use for better practices. The project has become inevitable as information and communication technologies are becoming very essential for building a knowledge-based society, which is the heart of the journalism profession.”

The Chairman explained that the project has two components of data generation/data digitisation as well as the creation of a digital library/interactive web platform.

According to Abechi, ‘’Expected accomplishments include, that practising journalists within the NUF/FCT Council will be fully authenticated, have easy access and verification of any of the professionals from any part of the world and the existence of such a database will help prevent quackery, even as it is expected to serve as a resource centre for members in the council.’’

On how the new executive of the council will mobilize funds for the completion of its new secretariat, Comrade Paul Abechi explained, “as you can see, we have re-opened talks with the Federal Capital Territory administration on the way forward.”

“The new minister and permanent secretary have assured us that they will mobilize the needed funds to complete the project. Remember that it was the last administration in the FCT that brought its contractors together to start the project, but the funds that were earlier put together have been exhausted,” the NUJ chief said.

He called on FCT journalists to cooperate with the Buhari-led administration for the benefit of the profession and for Nigerians in general