Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Sapele Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Nelson Agbjor has said that journalism is a noble profession and as such, his administration is committed to riding out quacks that are parading themselves as journalists in Sapele.
Nelson Agbajor disclosed this in Sapele when he received a team of media practitioners from Asaba, the Delta State capital who paid him an unscheduled courtesy visit at his country home in Sapele local government area in the state.
He however noted that journalism is a noble profession that commands respect at all levels of society but decried the rate at which some individuals parading themselves as media practitioners have done more harm than good to the profession.
The Sapele NUJ Chairman noted that his administration will not tolerate any quack who in the name of a social media blogger spoils the reputable names of qualified journalists in the area and advised those involved as a matter of urgency to desist from such act or face the dire consequences of the unlawful trade.
Comrade Agbajor said, “I thank my colleagues for finding time to come to Sapele on a special day like this.
“You can see what we are even talking about now, the government must rise to its responsibility of redefining our collective existence as a nation and the media has a very key role to play in this regard as a critical stakeholder in society.
“On the aspect of media practice in Sapele, our system of operation here is strictly on professionalism; Journalism is not for quacks and individuals who think that because we are in the era of social media they can spoil the profession, should turn a new leaf.
“I am assuring the good people of Sapele, the political class, our religious bodies, and other stakeholders in the local government that we will ride out quacks who are damaging the image of this noble profession.”
Agbajor added, “In journalism practice, investigative and interpretative reportage are very key in ensuring that whatever story that is going out to the general public should and must be correct so as to avoid misinforming the public.
“I want to use this medium to call on good-spirited individuals, organizations, and other stakeholders in the area to give the needed support to the Sapele NUJ Chapel aimed at complimenting our efforts in ensuring that the needed and correct information gets to members of the public.”
Similarly, Comrade Nelson Agbajor led other media practitioners to the scene of the Ugbenu fire incident along Ologbo/Warri-Benin Express way wherein over two hundred persons lost their lives.
Agbajor who expressed shock at the level of damage caused by the inferno, commiserated with the families of those that lost their loved ones in the incident.
Nelson Agbajor said, “I received the news of the Tanker Inferno with rude shock and I decided to come and see for myself.
“This is really sad and devastating, our prayers are with the families of those who lost their beloved and breadwinners in this unfortunate incident.
“It is also important to say that our roads are bad and I call on the government at all levels to as a matter of urgency do the needful so as to advert a thing like this in the near future.”
