Sanwo-Olu, Osoba, Isiguzo, others commission Lagos NUJ Secretariat

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba and National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo, were among distinguished personalities that graced the commissioning of the remodelled Lagos NUJ Secretariat yesterday.

Sanwo-Olu was represented by Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso.

Osoba, who was the Father of the Day, said: “I thank God for our mother, Mrs. Esther Ajayi, for her role in the completion of the remodelled secretariat We also thank God that we are witnessing this during the administration of Chris Isiguzo and Chairman, NUJ Lagos State Council, Adeleye Ajayi. It was during his tenure that journalists are given national honour. The late Alhaji Lateef Jakande did not receive any national honour. Sam Amuka-Pemu, at 88, has not received national honour. On behalf of myself and Sam Amuka-Pemu, who are among the few oldest living journalists in Nigeria, we pray that you will be greater than us and you are already showing that.”

Sanwo-Olu expressed concern over current state of journalism in the country.

He said: “Reporting in journalism is dying. Anybody that can tap the computer is now a columnist. We need to go to the drawing board. It is after you have reported accurately that you can begin to talk about being a columnist. I will like all of us not to joke with training of reporters.”

Similarly, Isiguzo described Lagos as the heartbeat, saying: “We are not surprised. It has affirmed that Lagos leads, while others follow. Journalists have no excuse now as they can be trained and retrained. This is coming A few weeks to the general elections. So, it behooves on all journalists to bear in mind that the future of the country is in our hands and we must not truncate it. Our writing must help deliver transparent, free and fair elections. You are strategic to delivering credible elections, please do the right thing.”

He added that the initial one-storey building was bought by Mrs. Olufunke Fadugba-led Executive, two decades ago, with the intention to bring NUJ nearer to the seat of government in Alausa,Ikeja. We thank Mrs Fadugba and her executive for this laudable initiative.

Isiguzo said: “Our father and mentor, Chief Osoba, is proud of his children that he had nurtured, because he did the commissioning of the original building here 20 years ago. We also commend the last Executive of the union led by Dr. Qasim Akinreti that started the remodelling work in 2019.”