2020 NUJ Press Week: A medal well-deserved
“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.”
It is less than two years since the Comrade Amos Etuk-led Nigeria Union of Journalists –NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council came onboard following the massive support from members who wanted a new order where perfection could be chased and if not attained, excellence would be achieved.
Today, excellence has returned to the union, professionalism is now an abiding practice and what was to be has become.
It started with the biometric capturing which separated journalists from writers, because while all journalists are writers not all writers are journalists.
The difference is in what one knows and what the other doesn’t know. This step has brought back dignity to the pen profession and has forced many who hitherto practiced what they did not know to seek to know what to practice.
Comrade Etuk has raised the bar in journalism practice in the state and has received commendation from the number one journalist in Nigeria, the NUJ President, Chris Izigozu who said “Comrade Amos’ vision for NUJ in Akwa Ibom represents what journalism stands for in Nigeria.
“At the national level, we are proud of him.”
The above represents just one out of the many accolades the chairman has received from high and low places for his instant impact in the union.
The 2020 NUJ Press Week, the second under Comrade Amos Etuk’s watch has just been concluded and again he has proven his capacity to lead a new NUJ.
The turn out and involvement of members in all the week long events from the Thanksgiving Service to the Dinner/Award Night stood clear as a testimony that effective leadership is defined by expected results.
The 2020 NUJ Press Week another unforgettable week that shaped members of the union through qualitative programmes and activities coordinated by the two-time Press Week chairman, Comrade Nsibiet John, another pen-man with knack for excellence.
We are about to lose the year 2020, a year where journalists were ‘combatants’ and front line workers educating and informing the people on how to stay safe during a pandemic.
The theme “Media, Capacity Development and Nation Building in a Covid-19 Era,” is another reminder that if Science and Arts must work together for the general good of Humanity then the Media must be the driver of the development.
Well done Chairman, Comrade Amos Etuk. The medal of honour places a burden on you not to lose it, like we trusted you in the beginning, we’ll trust you to the end to take the union to a towering height.
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.
I love Journalism.
Bassey IIbiatisuho is the Captain, NUJ Football Team,
“The Pen Pushers.”
