NUJ@70: Gov Nwifuru cautions against unverified reports among journalists

 Gov Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi has cautioned media experts in the state to steer clear of unconfirmed reports and promote good governance.

Nwifuru gave the charge at the occasion marking the 70 years of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Abakaliki on Friday.

The Governor, who decried the way journalists reports unverified news, said there was need to embrace objectivity and accuracy in their daily reportage.

Nwifuru, represented by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Chikadibia Okpor, said the present government was committed to promoting press freedom.

He hailed NUJ at 70 and stressed that the importance of information and communication to nation building could not be over-emphasised in the history of Nigeria.

Mr Abia Onyike, Chairman of the occasion, described the media as the “monitor of government” all-over the world.

Onyike, former Commissioner for Information in Ebonyi, emphasised the need for journalists to embrace fairness and balance reporting.

Dr Joe Chukwu, Communication Scholar and Head of Department, Mass Communication, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike in Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi, said in his keynote lecture, that the media had promoted democracy in Nigeria.

Chukwu noted that the advocacy for press freedom had yielded good fruits to national development.

“The democracy in Nigeria had been promoted through the media. The NUJ has made concerted effort in promoting the female journalists,” he said.

Mr Samson Nwafor, State’s Chairman of Council expressed happiness over the Union at 70 and pledged for the continued support of the federal and state government for good governance.