Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Thursday, July 20, held a Memorial Lecture on “Freedom of the Press, Fake News and the Rule of Law”, in honour of Senator (Elder) Ayim .
At the event held at Sports Club, Enugu, the state Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, Patricia Obila, Ag. Chairman of Igbo Leaders of Thoughts and former Director General, MAMSER, Prof . Elochukwu Amaucheazi, former Minister of Information and former National President Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide , Nnia Nwodo
Akpata
And other diginatries eulogized late Senator Anyim Ude.
Speaking, Governor. Mbah described late Senator Anyim Ude , a renowned Journalist and Broadcaster, as a revered personality, disciplined statesman, who lived his life for the unity and progress of Nigeria.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Governor Mbah urged Journalists to emulate the virtues of the late Veteran Journalist, by disseminating the truth to the public.
In her brief remark, the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi, Mrs Patricia Obila, commended the NUJ and family of late Ude for honoring the late senator by organizing the event .
She promised the bereaved family that Ebonyi State government where Ude came will not abandon them.
Pix- SSG, Onyia
Delivering the lecture on the topic: “Freedom of the press, fake news and the rule of law”, the guest lecturer, and former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association NBA , Olu Akpata, said that the socio- economic challenges in Nigeria today , demanded the intervention of Journalists, Lawyers and the organised Labour.
He decried the lack of investigative Journalism and the take over of media space by untrained citizen journalists who mastermind “fake news.”
He wondered why Journalists kept silent over some recent socio-political issues in the country which they ought to have investigated . Akpata, therefore urged Journalists to live up to their responsibilities, especially in the area of investigative Journalism.
Pix- Ebonyi Deputy ,Obila
ADwelling on the topic “Freedom of the Press, Fake News and the Rule of Law”, the Guest lecturer said that there was a closer relationship between Journalists and lawyers, as vanguards of the society.
Pix- NUJ National president,Comrade Isiguzo
“There is a need for a healthy relationship between Lawyers and Journalists for Nigeria to move forward, ” he said.
Others who spoke at the event were the Ag. Chairman of Igbo Leaders of Thoughts, Prof . Elochukwu Amaucheazi, former Minister of Information and former National President Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Worldwide , Nnia Nwodo , the Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide,Alex Ogbonna, and Senator Ude’s son,Nnanna.
Pix- Nwodo
Nnanna thanked the organisers ,NUJ and all who attended the event
He said that in appreciation, the family has instituted a N1 million award for the best investigative journalist in the country annually..
Pix- Nnanna
Participants
Author: Maureen Ikpeama