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Mustapha Isah, NGE President

NGE tasks new inductees, fellows on image, integrity as President advocates insurance cover for journalists

Mustapha Isah, NGE President

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer/Bridget Ikyado/Angela Atabo

Abuja, Oct. 24, 2021

Mr. Mustapha Isah, the President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has charged the newly inducted members and fellows of the Guild to avoid anything that will bring disrepute to the image of the Guild.

Isah made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

He said the induction, which was a symbolic ceremony, was an annual ritual where potential members applied and those eligible were inducted.

“The Guild is 60 years old now, and we never had any bad image. We are always doing what will move the media industry and the country forward.

”My message to the inductees is that they should not do anything that would bring disrepute and jeopardise the image of the Guild,” Isah said.

NAN reports that the 13 Guild members inducted are Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director, International Press Centre, Ms Yewande Iwuoha, General Manager, Ray Power FM, Lagos and Ime Salias Ufot, Editor of Odenigbo FM.

Others are Adekoya Benjamin Adekunle, Deputy Editor, Vanguard Newspaper, Kehinde Bamigbetan, Editor-in-Chief, Echoenews Newspaper, Peter Ekele Agbo, Editor, Leadership Newspaper, Dr Austeen Maho, Editorial Director, Nigerian Pilot and Steve Omanufeme, MD/Editor-in-Chief, Independent Newspaper.

Others are Ayo Aluko-Olokun, Editor Democratic Report, Tonia Ike Ejeye, Director of News, Raypower FM, Ehi Brainah, Editor-in -Chief, Naija Times online Newspaper, Shaka Momodu, Editor, THISDAY Newspaper and Ogunjuyigbe Iyabode, Director, Editorial Radio Lagos/Eko FM.

Also eight persons inducted as Fellows are Mr Francis Ndubuisi Nwosu, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Press Council, Fred Fabor, Steve Ayorinde, Chief Goddy Ikeh and Mukhtar Magaji.

Others are Dr Halima Kamilu, Tony Iyare and Funke Egbemode.

NAN reports that the induction ceremony crowned the 17th All Nigeria Editors’ Conference (ANEC) 2021 with the theme: “Media in Times of Crises: Resolving Conflict, Achieving Consensus,” which started on Oct.21.

In another development, the NGE President, Mr. Isah, called for insurance cover for journalists in the country to encourage them to carry out their duties effectively.

Isah made the call in an interview with the NAN on Sunday in Abuja.

He said such insurance policy would encourage journalists to go the extra mile in getting authentic stories and disseminating credible information.

He said that insurance cover for journalists in the country was a necessity and would boost their morale and enhance effectiveness and efficiency in the media industry.

According to him, journalists in Nigeria are practising under a difficult and sometimes dangerous environment, thereby putting their lives on the line.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, media houses didn’t shut down. Journalists were still going out to do their work, even without any form of insurance cover.

“Some of us were infected in the process. Also, some journalists lost their lives in Kano and Abuja during the Shi’a protests.

“As we speak now, a reporter from Vanguard newspaper is missing and has not been found. Journalists should have insurance cover.

“CNN would not take you without having an insurance cover for you. That is why their journalists would be bold to report even from the war front,” the NGE President said.

Isah narrated how a Director of Press in a military formation in Maiduguri once told him to come to Borno to cover the war against insurgency instead of calling via the phone every time there was an attack.

“I told him I didn’t have insurance cover to cover the war against Boko Haram insurgency in Borno.

“I asked him if I died in the process what would happen to my family.

“So, there is the urgent need for media house owners and outfits to get insurance cover for their journalists,” he said.

 

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