Blueprint tops NUJ Press Freedom Awards


Blueprint Deputy Editor, Chizoba Ogbeche and Labour Correspondent, Moses John, were among eight journalists honoured at the 2019 NUJ Press Freedom Awards.
The Press Freedom Awards is a high profile event organised by the NUJ to celebrate courage and sacrifices journalists make with the aim to motivate them, promote press freedom, good governance and deepen democracy in the country. 


Ogbeche and John were confirmed with the Torch Bearer of Press Freedom Awards in recognition of harassment and assaults they had faced in the course of discharging their legitimate duties as journalists, at a ceremony which held Monday night at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja.


In his welcome address, President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo, said the event was also used to honour media icons and friends of the media who have distinguished themselves in supporting and sustaining press freedom in Nigeria.


According to him, “Journalists throughout the world are increasingly faced with threats that range from harassment to arbitrary detention, kidnapping, physical attacks, and in the most extreme cases, killing.


“UNESCO is the mandated agency with the United Nations that protects freedom of expression and freedom of the press as well as leads the coordination of the UN plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the issue of impunity. According to UNESCO, in the past decade, more than 800 journalists, media workers and social media reporters have been killed.”


He said the 2nd edition of the Awards was part of the union’s celebration of the annual World Press Freedom Day, noting that: “It is our intention to make it an annual event with Awards Lecture that will be in tone with the World Press Freedom Day, State of our Union and the state of our beloved nation. NUJ Press Freedom Awards has come to stay.”


The Award Lecture with the theme: The Role of the Media in Elections and Democracy, was delivered by Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmmood Yakubu.


Other journalists recognised include:  Bureau Chief, Leadership Newspaper Kaduna Zonal Office, Midat Joseph; Politics Editor, The Punch Newspaper, Olalekan Adetayo; as well as the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Powersteering Magazine.
Others are: former Chairman, the Punch Chapel of the NUJ, Comrade Felix Ofou; Senior Reporter, NTA, Adebola Brooklyn Sunday; and Premium Times Correspondent, Samuel Ogundipe.
Similarly, Director General, Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Agency, Engr. Chidi K. C. Izuwah Snr.; and Executive Secretary/ CEO, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Ms Yewande Sadiku; bagged the Distinguish Friend of the Media Awards.


Other winners in this category are: Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru; Executive Director, National Film and Video Censors Board, Adedayo Thomas; Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Prof Suleiman Bagoro; and Governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Tambuwal.


Also, former Minister of the FCT, and Governor-elect, Bauchi state, Senator Bala Mohammed; and former National President, NUJ and Commissioner for Information, Kano state, Mohammed Garba; bagged the Lifetime Achievement Awards; while Dr Ekechi Ejike (High Chief) bagged the Defender of Press Freedom Award.

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