El-Rufai Pledges Support for Kaduna Media as Correspondents Chapel Launches Compendium

El-Rufai Pledges Support for Kaduna Media as Correspondents Chapel Launches Compendium

Zainab Tanimu-Kaduna, NIGERIA

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has commended Kaduna Council for keeping its correspondent chapel vibrant. He has described the Media as a strong institution of the society, hence the need for journalists to be objective in their reportage.

The governor who was ably represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan made this call while declaring open the Secretariat and the launching of the Kaduna NUJ Correspondent Chapel’s Compendium on Friday.

He had pledged government support for Kaduna Media as the power of the Media he said cannot be underestimated when it comes to the development of any society. .

On the issue of clampdown on Journalists in Kaduna State, the Media aide to the governor said that such has never happened; assuring that such will never happen.

However, he had stressed on the need for journalists to exercise caution in their reportage.

“But for the fact that we are journalists does not mean that we have immunity and therefore we must separate bigotry, sentiments, self – assumption from our reportage”, the governor advised.

The Council Chairman, Comrade Adamu Yusuf congratulating the leadership of correspondent chapel for its doggedness in addressing its challenges reiterated the importance of the chapel which he described as the heartbeat of NUJ.  Kaduna state he said is blessed with both national and international media representatives who are ever ready to help move the state forward.

“We must commend the efforts of the Executive Members of this Chapel for launching its compendium, the full names and pictures of their members will complement the efforts of the state and the national body of NUJ to fish out quacks among us and that will also help to sanitize the system. As journalists, we should always put public interest above our personal interest. “Few of the obligations of journalism if I am to remind you are: truth, objectivity, balance and social responsibility to the state, country and the world in general”. He sounded.

While speaking, he also advised members of the noble profession to always strive to show ultimate allegiance to citizens, put the public interest and truth above their self – interest or assumptions.

Earlier, Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel, Comrade Midat Joseph in his opening remarks assured the public of the Correspondents Chapel’s readiness to partner with established lawful agencies in Kaduna State, saying that they are the news makers of the society. With the political atmosphere beginning to heat up, he cautioned that journalists must put professionalism to play saying, “we should not allow politicians to dribble us. Everybody should be given fear hearing. There is always the other side of the story”.

Peace and togetherness he stressed is an important ingredient to making the state great.

“Our doors are opened for partnership with any agency that is ready to partner with us.

Together we would make Kaduna great

Together, we would make Nigeria great.” He assured