The National Orientation Agency Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists Kwara State Council has unveiled Alhaji Tunde Akanbi as its pioneer patron.
This was during a seminar held on Wednesday in Ilorin, as part of the Chapel’s 2020 press week activities.
Unveiling the patron, Mr Olusegun Adeyemi, the State Director of the Agency and member of the Chapel lauded the professionalism and contribution of the veteran Journalist to the pen profession and stated that “NOA Chapel is indeed privileged to come under the tutelage of the distinguished pen pusher who is indeed an oasis to tap from”.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Com Adegbayibi Ajibade the Chairman of NOA Chapel described the patron as a man full of invaluable experience and a Journalist of no mean achievement who was selected based on his pedigree.
Accepting the position and addresing the gathering, Alhaji Akanbi who is also the Chairman National Union of League of Veteran Journalists Kwara commended the leadership of NOA Kwara as well as the chapel for being proactive and giving him a platform to serve.
Akanbi further pledged to do all within his capacity to enhance the professionalism of NOA Chapel members as well as contribute more to the development of the pen profession even as he charged media practitioners on the need to consistently play their roles in nation building without fear or favour.
The NUJ Chairman Kwara State Council Mallam Umar Abdulwahab who also graced the occasion charged pen pushers to commit wholeheartedly to professional reportage, stay above board and be good ambassadors of the professiona. He further urged other chapels in the State council to remain active and cooperate with Anti qauckery committee set up by the Council.
Presenting a paper on the “Role of Journalism in Nation Building”, Elder Stephen Oni, the guest speaker identified Agenda setting, investigative journalism, citizens enlightenment on projects, constructive criticism as part of the roles of Journalists in building the nation.
Elder Oni identified journalism as very germane and paramount because it is a veritable vehicle to shape ideas, mould public opinions, influence citizenry’s behaviours and promote policies that can guarantee high quality of life.
The veteran also submitted that journalism in Nigeria, despite all odds, has gone a long way in contributing immensely to the growth of this country. It has also gone a long way in ensuring an enabling environment in which the citizenry, to a large extent, have become involved in the process of nation building.
He therefore called on government to give all support possible to the media to enable it fully perform its arduous roles of nation building.
