By Magnus Aluma
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ebonyi State Council, has inaugurated a 17-man Planning Committee for its 2024 Annual Press Week.
The Press Week Committee is headed by Comrade Amechi Odo of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), while Comrade Fortunate Ozo of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), will serve as the Secretary.
Other members of the committee include Comrades Nnamdi Akpa, Goodwin Oguta, Oswald Agwu, Uchenna Inya, Chika Igwe and Moses Nwite. The rest are Cynthia Egwu, Pauline Nweneri-enwe, Chinwe Imo-Eze Onwosi, Lucy Anyim, Juliana Okoro, Ogbonna Ezeali, Peter Okutu, Victor Nwegede and Ebere Okpara-Oko.
The other committee inaugurated was a 7-man Award Committee, headed by Comrade Felix Uka, with Israel Ekene Mbam as the secretary, while Kingsley Okoro, Moses Erogu, Emeka Opara, Amarachi Egwu-Agha and Eugene Ebenyi are members.
Inaugurating the Committee on Wednesday at the NUJ Secretariat, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, chairman of the NUJ in the state, Comrade Samson Nwafor, charged the Committee to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that this year’s Press Week was a success.
He said the Grand Finale of this year’s Press Week is expected to take place on Thursday, October 3, 2024, at Dr. Sam Egwu Press Center, Abakaliki, and will feature awards presentations to deserving members of the society, from all walks of life.
Comrade Nwafor explained that the week-long activity is an annual event, observed by members of NUJ, across the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, adding that it is usually a period of stocktaking for practicing Journalists in the country.
According to him, “press week is a period practicing Journalists take stock of their operations, to know how they have faired in the year under review. It affords us the opportunity to underscore how our operations have impacted positively or otherwise on the society, and brainstorm on how best to improve and move forward for the betterment of the society.”
Speaking further, he said, “it is also a period we invite our friends from all walks of life to dine and wine with us, encourage and advise us where necessary.”
Comrade Nwafor said the mandate of the Award Committee is to accept nominations of prospective Awardees from the general public, conduct necessary investigations, screen nominees and come up with the list of successful nominees, which will be forwarded to the NUJ National Secretariat for approval ahead of the Press Week Grand Finale, where shortlisted nominees would be Honoured.
In their acceptance speeches on behalf of their members, the chairman of the Press Week Planning Committee, Comrade Amechi Odo and that of the Award Committee, Comrade Felix Uka, pledged to put in their best for the success of the Press Week.
