Anambra NUJ Holds Year-End Party In Awka…Education Commissioner, NNPP Senate Candidate Among Attendees

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra state Council ,  held its year-end party  during the weekend  with some among the dignitaries that attended the event  urging electors in the state  to ensure they collect their  PVCs which will allow them to have a say in choosing their  leaders in the next year’s general election. 

Anambra Central NNPP senate candidate , Barrister Princess Helen Mbakwe, who was one of the political bigwigs that attended the event,  has also promised that if elected as senator, the people of Anambra Central Senatorial District will enjoy the benefits of  quality representation in line with her new Nigeria project.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned the Year-end  Party  which was held at the Godwin Ezeemo International Press Center, Awka , also witnessed the investiture   of new Patrons  of the state NUJ.

The new patrons are;  Ide Umuawulu, High Chief Azubuike Augustine Ekweozor, a Business Mogul and Freight Forwarding Expert , Owelle n’Ossomala ,Chief Felix Awogu, Executive Head,  Studios and Events ,Multichoice Nigeria : and Ojinnaka n’Onitsha ,Chief Obi Asika,  CEO ,Cabal Entertainment, Executive Producer ,Curator and Developer of original content. 

Princess Mbakwe added that  she ‘is driven by the passion to do things positively different so as to bring succour to the people of her senatorial district’.

She listed empowerment, educational support, youth and women engagement as well as welfare schemes as part of her legislative agenda which she said would translate to employment opportunities, security, productivity at the grassroots level and excellence in education in the entire Anambra Central Senatorial district if elected as senator.

While urging all and sundry to utilize this window of opportunity to collect their PVCs, she added that the task of creating a new Nigeria which her party represents ‘is a collective struggle for all’ which should be supported by any rational Nigerian irrespective of party , ethnic or religious affiliation. 

‘You need to do new things to see new things happen. I’m just one person just like every other person but I want to go and see what I can do to see that Nigeria is made anew. It is a tall order I know but we shall succeed.

I’m going there to bring lots of succour to my  Anambra Central people. The aged need to be included in the government, we have the young people, several cadres of them, the employable and the unemployable. The unemployable, we need to find something that will be done to make them employable.

School system has changed now and it is no more what it used to be when we were schooling. We need to change a lot of things in our educational system and also beef up some of the structures we have in our educational system so that children will be encouraged to go to school.

It is education that will change a lot of things going forward. We also need to care for the physically challenged people because they need to be taken care of.  We also  need to give the mothers opportunities by empowering them and making them get empowered.

Under my stewardship, as from 2023 and beyond, Anambra Central will look forward to households and individuals feeling the impact of a new Nigeria. They will have relief and welfare to make them relax a little from where we are coming from and from the dream we have going forward’  she said.

 Anambra state Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh urged journalists to always bear the society in mind while discharging their duties as  watchdogs of the society noting that their reportage ‘is capable of building or destroying things’.

Professor Chuma-Udeh, who commended the journalists for what they had done in respect of nation -building, acknowledged their powers to build or destroy through their reportage while encouraging them to always abide by the ethics of the profession so as to effect positive changes in the society.

‘Without journalists, we will remain in darkness. But, I advise you not to practice journalism at the expense of national peace. As you disseminate information, be on the path of truth always’ she said.

Chairman of the Anambra state NUJ, Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu and the Vice Chairman of the union, Comrade Ngozi Obileri thanked journalists in the state for supporting  the exco since assumption of office, urged them to continue to prioritize  professionalism  while praying  for  continued God’s blessings.

‘Be careful with matters that have to do with  friendship. As journalists, you must know where to draw  the line because your friendship must not undermine the performance of your job’ Odogwu said.

In separate remarks, the Traditional Ruler of Umuawulu in Awka South Council Area, Igwe Joel Egwuonwu, his Osomala, Ogbaru Council Area counterpart, Igwe Chukwuemaka Awogu, and Anambra NUJ Patron and ,a one- time President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, as well as President of Nkwelle Ezunaka Community, Chief Chris Eluemuno commended journalists in the state for their  efforts towards reshaping the society for the good of the voiceless, emphasizing  the need to remain unbiased while covering the forthcoming general election.

Earlier, Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Emeka Ezeonu, who is  the immediate past Resident Electoral Commissioner of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Imo State, asserted that the 2023 elections cannot be rigged.

Ezeonu urged Nigerians to get their PVCs and perform their civic responsibility next year.

The ex-REC  submitted that the Electoral Law as amended has  made vote rigging  impossible .

“BVAS approval has tightened the loopholes in card readers, making the electors more confident that their votes would count.

You owe the society education, sensitization and mobilization. Journalists are critical to our survival as a people.

I assure that nobody can rig the elections again. The BVAS is the best thing that has  ever happened to the nation’s electoral system. Your vote is your power. Come out and exercise it on the Election Day’  he said.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of the 2022 Professor Chinyere Stella Okunna Award for Ethical Journalism to  Alfred Ajayi of Radio Nigeria Purity FM Awka – Team@orientactualmags.com
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