By Janet Samuel
Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, FCT Chapter, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche, has urged the graduating students of journalism to always consider pursuing national interest in the course of gathering and disseminating news information.
He gave the advice during a ceremony where students of the International Institute of Journalism, (IIJ) Abuja graduated.
The event held at the FCT NUJ Council Secretariat, Utako, Abuja
Comrade Ogbeche, who was represented by the Secretary of the Council, Ochiaka Ugwu noted that journalists have a great role to play in ensuring National development by adopting and practicing developmental journalism.
“Whenever you come across a news story capable of threatening the corporate existence of the country as an entity, do not publish it, because you have to put the nation’s interest above everything else.
“Believe me, you will only know the beauty and value of your country when you turn around and look at the condition of those people living in a failed state. Thus, we must protect our country.”He said
He maintained that National development can only be realized when the country is at peace, thus journalists can help achieve that by promoting National interest via sensitive reportage.
In his remarks, the Media Law and Ethics lecturer of the institute, Dr. Austin Maho, who doubles as the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of ‘DAYBREAK newspaper, enjoined the graduands to always uphold the ethical codes of journalism profession in the course of discharging their watchdog function for the society.
Earlier, the graduating students, through their Class Representative, Miss Joy Osaji appreciated the lecturers for imparting them with sound knowledge and requisite skills needed for the practice of journalism, during the course of the program.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of award by the graduating students to the lecturers.