Katsina State NUJ Celebrates Katsina State @39
By Abdu Labaran Malumfashi.
The Katsina Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Tuesday (30-9-2025) celebrated the creation of the state, which was done by the administration of the Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) in 1987, as is its annual wont. The theme of the event is, ‘DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENTAL JOURNALISM: A CASE STUDY OF NORTHERN NIGERIA’.
THE theme should have been a case study of the whole of Nigeria, not just the Northern part, because the entire country is in the Democratic dispensation, and what is democratically good for one region should also be good for the other regions.
AS the WATCHDOG of the society, the media (traditional or new) must not be seen as ALWAYS disagreeing with the government even when it is doing the right thing, NOR must it be agreeing with the authority even when it is decidedly on the wrong track. The media therefore, is in a critical position to ensure accountability in the society without throwing its integrity to the dogs.
THE media’s integrity is the guarantee to its longevity, and the acceptability of the society as the protector of its interests, NOT the promoter of self interest (that is what agreeing with the government ALL THE TIME means), at which point it would have lost the role of the watchdog of the society it is supposed to play.
THE Union (NUJ) should therefore NOT shy away from ensuring that its members do what the society expects of them. The media is not an opposition which appears to always criticise. As is pointed out earlier, it is supposed to COMMEND (applaud) government if the right thing is done, or is being done, and in the same vain, should also CONDEMN (criticise) when there is NEED for doing so.
THE mainstream Western World media has long been identified as LIVING IN DENIAL, by reporting ONLY what is favourable to their ESTABLISHERS. They NEVER taught their readers how to add two and two together and arrive at four. They are therefore DISBELIEVED by many people. And one of the major RISKS is that they have been STEREOTYPED as being economical with the TRUTH , to the extent that they are DISBELIEVED even when they are telling the TRUTH.
A few courageous and honest HUMANISTS, are changing the narrative through the NEW MEDIA, using it to tell what the Western Establishment does NOT want to the PUBLIC to know.
TO be sure, the information SUPER HIGHWAY (as the new media is known) is no respecter of TARDINESS and BACKWARDNESS, because it is both UBIQUITOUS and INSTANTANEOUS in passing the ‘message’, today. It has no ‘newsroom’ like the RADIO and the TELEVISION (important arms of the traditional media). The new media is FUTURISTIC, so to speak.
I am invited to the occasion, but unfortunately I am not in the position to attend (my loss), because of the august presence of the Governor of Katsina State, Dr. Dikko Umar Radda, PhD, who was represented by the Information and culture commissioner,,as the Special Guest of Honour, Wazirin Ilmin Ķasar Hausa, Professor Sani Lugga, as the Chairman Of The Occasion, Dr. Bashir Usman Ruwan Godiya as the Key Speaker, with the National Chairman of the NUJ, Dr. Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, as the Guest Of Honour.
THE year’s theme could not have been more fitting, in view of the presence of the publisher of the now rested ‘NEWS WORLD’ Magazine, the National Chairman of the NUJ, and Dr. Ruwan Godiya, a sound Senior Lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication of the Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic (HUK Poly), ALL of them distinguished Northerners .
IN his opening remarks, the governor, who was represented by the Katsina State Commissioner of Information and Culture, Dr. Bala Sani Zango, assured journalists of his government’s determination to encourage the institution. He announced that his government had awarded N1.2 billion contract for the for the upgrading and digitalizing the State Television (KTTV).
THE Chairman of the Occasion, Professor Sani Abubakar Lugga, noted the importance of the media, asserting that it is not possible to conduct any aspect of human development successfully without the media. He gave kudos to the Katsia state council of the NUJ for celebrating the creation of the state annually.
KEY note Speaker of the occasion, Dr Bashir Usman Ruwan Godiya of HUK, believes that Developmental Journalism could assist towards developing the Northern part of the Country, urging Journalists to always be ethical in the reportage of things.
THE National President of NUJ, Dr Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, assured that the union would soon start the struggle for the introduction of special Salary for Journalists all over the Country.
The President also emphasised the need for Journalists in the North to focus on Developmental Reportage, lamenting that this part of Country is left behind in terms of reporting developments in the areas of Education, Health and Poverty reduction.
IN his address at the event, the Katsina State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Tukur Dan-Ali Hassan said that the council celebrates the Anniversary of the State annually, as demonstration of its love for the dear State and it’s development.
THE council chairman, then presented an award of recognition to the State Governor, Dr. Dikko Umar for ‘Exemplary Leadership’ and support for ‘the Fourth Estate’ of the Realm.
THE annual event was a great success as representatives of almost all the Security Organizations in Katsina State, the Commissioner for Rural and Social Development, Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour and Productivity, Hajiya Mariya Abdullahi (Garkuwar Bakori,) Member representing Katsina Local Government at the State House of Assembly, Alhaji Ali Abubakar Albaba, and many Civil Society Organizations, as well as Labour leaders in Katsina graced it.
May God NOT let the NUJ be caught FOOT DRAGGING in doing what is needed to compete well with the New Media in the FAST DEVELOPING WORLD of today. And, may He BLESS and MAKE the NUJ succeed ALL the time.
Abdu Labaran Malumfashi wrote from Katsina