Members of Nigeria Union Of Journalists NUJ from across 36 states and the FCT on Tuesday converged in Jalingo the capital city of Taraba State to a two day National Media summit.
The theme of the summit is : Building Trust Integrity in the Age of Misinformation.
National Media Summit is part of provision of the NUJ constitution.
Taraba State is hosting the National summit of the Union the first time
Members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) from across the 36 states and the FCT converged on Tuesday in Jalingo, the capital city of Taraba State, for a two-day National Media Summit.
The theme of the summit is: “Building Trust and Integrity in the Age of Misinformation.”
The National Media Summit is part of the provisions of the NUJ constitution.
Taraba State is hosting the Union’s National Summit for the first time.
In his welcome address, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), called on the federal government to support road construction efforts in Taraba State, emphasizing that improved infrastructure will accelerate development across the region.
According to him, members of the Union from all parts of the country defied the deplorable roads leading to Taraba to attend the meeting.
He maintained that the summit was brought to the state because of the remarkable improvement in security.
According to the President of the NUJ, the theme is a collective call to combat factors that weaken both the profession and the country. He urged members of the Union to always uphold ethical standards and professionalism.
Comrade Yahya lauded the Governor of Taraba State for making the summit a reality.
In a keynote address, Professor Umar Pate, Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, said that under no circumstances should journalists face harassment while performing their duties.
He noted that every journalist must be alive to tell the story for societal benefit.
He added that journalists should conquer fear to enable them to carry out their duties effectively.
He listed several safety standards for journalists, in line with UNESCO guidelines.
According to him, these include: psychological safety, physical safety, gender safety, digital safety, media safety, and economic safety.
Speaking further on the digital significance for media, the university don pointed out, “Any journalist who is not ready to embrace the digital era should prepare himself for oblivion. I urge the Governor of Taraba State to provide every reporter in Taraba with a laptop and a smartphone to enable them to operate effectively.”
In his speech, the Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, said the National Summit brought to Taraba is not only an honour to the state but also a strategic step toward national development and nation-building.
“Journalists are partners in progress. I therefore call for a stronger and continuous partnership to build a better society. The media plays a critical role in nation-building.”
Governor Kefas urged the NUJ to continue championing the truth, stating that they have a role in shaping positive narratives. “Let us build collaboration together where the nation can grow,” he added.