NUJ Zone A Round Table Meeting: Two Police Traffic Warders, Others Bag NUJ’s Award Of Excellence

NUJ Zone A Round Table Meeting: Two Police Traffic Warders, Others Bag NUJ’s Award Of Excellence

Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, North_West, Nigeria

It is true that no good deeds go unnoticed and every person is important in his own little way.

This is the story of two Kaduna Police Command traffic warders, Friday Bala and Alheri Yakubu whose performances caught the attention of the officials of the Nigeria Union of Journalists  NUJ Zone A who secretly watched them until satisfied and finally penned down their names amongst those to be awarded.

These two traffic warders perform their duties with joy. Always wearing a smiling face while on duty.

The NUJ National Vice President Zone A, Comrade Yusuf Idris who revealed this during the event urged them to continue in that spirit as such zeal and dedication to work could lead to more greatness.

Idris called on Nigerians to always be committed to their jobs as no one  knows where such dedication can lead to.

Senator Uba Sani one of the recipients of the NUJ award, a member representing Kaduna Central District in the National Assembly, presented the awards.

In his commendation, he charged them to remain exemplary force to the command while commending NUJ’s contribution to the growth of the state and for organising a round table meeting on fake news with the theme, ” Fake News, Governance and Society”  which he said was apt.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists North West Zone A in collaboration with the Kaduna State Council had organized the fora owning to its concern over the proliferation of fake news which is fast becoming not only a threat to the corporate existence of true journalism  practice  but to the nation at large.

Senator Uba Sani, lamenting over the proliferation of fake news said fake news in no small way has wrecked havoc on the society and if not well checked could lead to disintegration of the country.

The lawmaker informed that because of its gravity, the National Assembly (NASS), already has two bills before the House of Representatives to checkmate the problem of fake news.

“It has created lots of problems in our society. I’m happy this event is held in Kaduna, and also that stakeholders came here with open minds.

While commending NUJ for initiating such an event, he is of the hope that it will yield fruitful results.

Contributing, another recipient of NUJ North West award of Excellence, the Hon. Speaker Kaduna House of Assembly, Hon. Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani called on the media to always put Nigeria first in their reportage as well as maintain the ethics of their profession. He emphasized on objectivity, fairness as well going extra miles to balance reports as that will help to rid any misconception.

Fake news he noted through the proliferation of social media platforms has done a lot of damage.

The dangers being that of aggravating the insecurity problem the nation is currently facing. With fake news, a lot of panic, apprehension is created and genocidal tendencies that could plunge the nation into serious crisis are recorded. He stated.

Hon. Zailani commending the efforts of the media charged them to look inward and see how best to checkmate this cankerworms for the oneness of the nation.

The topic he commended is harp.

Speaking, earlier, the Nigeria Union of Journalist’s National President, Comrade Chris Esiguzo enumerated the efforts of the union in curbing the spread of fake news saying the union has met with members of the national assembly to chart a way forward which Hon Uba Sani acknowledged as he  was part of the process.

The NUJ President reacting to the idea of creating new laws to tackle the issue of fake said it will lead to proliferation of laws in the system.

He argued that already there are existing laws like the criminal code and penal code laws that could be used to tackle the problem.

The national assembly should see if the the existing laws need to be reviewed or amended. Saying,

” We can not continue to have so many laws that don’t bite but just bark ”  and that the national assembly should look into it.

While thanking the presenters for their quality presentations, the NUJ he promised will do the needful.

” We are going to take those topics and see how we can engage further on this issue of fake news and see how we can stamp it out the same way and manner we have united to tackle the Corona Virus pandemic ”. He said.

The Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists Kaduna state Council, Comrade Adamu Yusuf in his closing remark expressed satisfaction over the turnout which he said was impressive.

He commended all the paper presenters who spoke wonderfully well on charting a course to curb the spread of fake news.

Adamu is optimistic that the meeting will pave way for healthy collaboration and chart in a new course to the problem at stake.

All past National Officers, NUJ North – West Zone received award of excellence.

The meeting which took place at Arewa House Kaduna had in attendance media practitioners and friends of the media across the state.