By Chuks NZEh
The leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has said that in thier quest to enhance the welfare of members, plans are in motion to establish a Journalists’ trustfund, where its members can assess funds to solve their education,health and other salient issues that are making the profession unattractive, while urging well to Nigerians of goodwill to contribute to the funds when established because of some of the realities of the profession in Nigeria.
This was made known by the Chairman of the FCT Council of the union Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche, during the conferment of Peace Ambassador Award on renowned philanthropist to the Founder, A.A. Zaura Foundation Alhaji Abdulsalam Abdulkareem Zaura, recently in Abuja.
Ogbeche said the Council was took interest in the awardee when he voluntarily visited the council to distribute Personal Protective Equipment, PPE, to help journalists combat the dreaded coronavirus pandemic, and also by Zaura’s penchant for philanthropic and humanitarian gestures in the society as well as many pursuits of peaceful coexistence in the country, as well as community development projects he single-handedly executed in various communities.
Ogbeche solicited for partnership between Zaura and the media in a mutually beneficial relationship to achieve great things.
“The NUJ wants to build a relationship with you that endures, a mutually beneficial relationship where we will tell Nigerians the worthy character that you are, the good thing that you do and the ability that you possess to do even more.
“We know you are not just a man of affluence , you are a man of influence and together we think we can do great things. We want to see a situation where you are positive force for change, for development for our members and for the country.
“We are planning a trustfund where we will once in a while go to that trustfund and support our members, some desire to go back to school, some have issues of health challenge. And so individuals like you with influence, can also bring your friends to help us contribute. ”I remember the last time you visited NUJ FCT, you saw that we are trying to build a 200 sitting capacity auditorium, we are still in that process and we solicit for support , so that years down the line when people come and see the Roll of Honour, of those that assisted us in realising that project , your name would be clearly stand out in gold.”
Responding, Mr Zaura who expressed delight in the NUJ’s gesture described the union as a wonderful friend which has continued spotlight his activities, giving him courage and acting as a source of inspiration to him.
While pledging not relent in his philanthropic and humanitarian works, he also said for NUJ to have given him the award, he would not relent in availing the union of support at all times.
“The Nigerian Union of Journalist has been a very wonderful friend to us because you always open your eyes to search and see that potentials in me and believing in me and giving me courage. You people serve as source of inspiration to me, making my knee and my elbow so strong to give more alms to the orphanage, to fight and strive more in what I’m doing.
“My appreciation to you cannot be quantified. I thank you so much and I want to reaffirm and assure you that we will always be with you in terms of supporting your good job of telling people and telling the families of all the good things they are supposed to know about us and the general work you do in enlightening people. You have been so much a very big figure in the society. I will never stop appreciating you and I will always like to associate with you, be with you, be part of you any day anytime.” Zaura affirmed.
Comments are closed.