Archbishop Okeke to NUJ: Media Practice needs to be promoted in Anambra State

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka.

The metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, Anambra State, His Grace, Most Reverend Valerian Maduka Okeke has urged journalists in the state to commit to job of lifting media profession and practice in Anambra State.

The Archbishop made this known when he played host to the executive of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Anambra State Council at the Cathedral Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha Anambra State on Thursday.

Receiving the team, Archbishop Okeke commended the NUJ for carrying the church along in its activities and declared that the church is committed to partnership towards lifting media practice in the state.

He noted that his love for the media was the reason for the establishment of Catholic owned Trinitas newspaper and Radio Sapiensa, Onitsha. He also said their establishment was in response to the need for the advancement of truth and to give voice to the downtrodden in the society.

The Archbishop explained that his church has not shied away from providing academic opportunities for further training of its staff, noting that it has, in recent times, granted sponsored opportunities to its staff to acquire more knowledge that would improve their performance and job competence.

He however assured that the faith-based stations would be organized to form a chapel to queue into the programmes of the NUJ in the state. He also assured to partner the NUJ in the upcoming Bloggers’ Summit which would take place in June.

Earlier in a remark, Chairman NUJ, Anambra State Council, Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, commended the Archbishop for establishing the faith-based stations, adding that it was a step in the right direction and in line with the demands of the society.

Appreciating the Catholic Archbishop, Dr Odogwu stressed that the Prelate is known for his philanthropic gestures and humanitarian services in the state and beyond. He also said the successes made by the Archbishop speaks volume of the person he is in the society.

According to him, “the Archbishop has used the Justice for Development Peace Caritas (JDPC), a non-governmental arm of the church to champion political awareness, peace and interventions especially in the rural areas.”

He also eulogized the Archbishop for his many scholarship and youth empowerment programmes, noting that the interventions have provided hope to jobless youths, less privileged and had gone a long way in curbing some of the societal ills resulting from unemployment in the state and country at large.

The NUJ chairman, however, reassured that the Union in Anambra state would continue its partnership with the church for the propagation of truth and gospel for the development of the society.

In a vote of thanks, Chairman Catholic Media Practitioners of Nigeria (CAMPAN) Onitsha Archdiocese, Mr Aloysius Attah thanked the Archbishop for queuing into the programmes of the NUJ despite his tight schedules and other engagements.