Fides Media Living the Faith
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
The Anambra State Chairman of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria, ACSPN, Anambra State Chapter, Comrade Mrs Ify Obi, has called on all professionals, communications scholars and experts, to key into the policies and programmes of the association.
Comrade Obi, who stated this at Godwin Ezeemo International Press Center, Awka, during the maiden empowerment series event organized by the body, appreciated all present at the function and said the association was an umbrella body of academics and practitioners in the communication industry.
She stated that it was aimed at supporting the growth of communication scholarship, training and practice in Nigeria.
The event was attended by communication scholars, professionals and students.
Addressing the gathering, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, described the theme of the empowerment programme, “Stemming the Tide of Insecurity in Nigeria: Role of The Media”, as apt, considering the fact that insecurity was rife in Nigeria. He said it was incumbent on the media to stem the tide by properly applying the vital tenets of information, education and entertainment.
The Information Commissioner explained that there was need to use the courts to control unprofessional journalists, who, he said, perpetuated the spread of fake news on the social media as a way of reducing insecurity.
In his speech, the National President of the association, Professor Umaru Pate, who spoke through the South East Vice President of ACSPN, Professor Ifeyinwa Nsude, while pronouncing the theme as essential because of the present level of insecurity in the country, explained that the media, in line with its avowed responsibilities of informing, educating and entertaining the public, had been in the vanguard of reporting and proffering solutions on how to stem the tide of insecurity.
In his opening remarks, the presidential candidate of the All-Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and former Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter Umeadi, who was the chairman on the occasion, commended the efforts of the association in coming up with the empowerment programme and stressed the role and importance of the media in ensuring the security of life and property in the country.
A board member of the association and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Paul University Awka, Professor Stella Okunna, thanked God for the feats the association had achieved and urged journalists to rise up to the challenge of insecurity through their reports, bearing in mind the ethics of the profession to help government and the people experience security consciousness.
Others present at the event were the Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Charles Esimone, represented by Professor Harry Obi-Nwosu; Anambra State Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Honourable Don Onyenji; Managing Director of Anambra Broadcasting Service, Mr. Chido Obidiegwu; former Commissioner for Basic Education, Professor Kate Omenugha, and APGA State Chairman, Sir Norbert Obi, represented by Mr. Emma Adibe, among others.