... as ICPC trains 60 journalists on corruption prevention
By Chukwudi Osuji
Minister of Information, Alhaji Muhammad Idris has commended the President of Nigeria Union of Journalist, NUJ, Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi for his proactive and vibrant leadership and urged him to sustain efforts for the overall good of the union and members.
The Minister represented by the Director General, Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Baba Ndace gave the commendation while declaring open a one-day special training organized by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC in collaboration with NUJ for over 60 Journalists drawn across the country.
The training, held at Rockview Hotel Royale in Abuja, centered on corruption prevention and strategies that would help combat financial crimes through the media.
Idris said that active partnership between ICPC and NUJ is key in sustaining the fight against corruption in Nigeria and tasked media practitioners on professionalism and development driven reporting.
He said, “we are in the age of misinformation. I therefore consider this ICPC and NUJ training as timely and necessary. Journalists and social media influencers are two different people doing media work but journalists have an edge because they are professionally trained to disseminate accuracy information for societal development."
Speaking earlier, the ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN also commended NUJ leadership and members for their commitment and professionalism in contributing towards fighting corruption in the country.
He explained that the essence of collaborating with NUJ to have training is to chart a new course in promoting Anti corruption mechanisms across the country, noting that the media is a powerful tool to fight corruption especially in their role of investigating corruption cases.
Dr Musa stated that ICPC believes in preventive measures which are important in preventing corruption cases, saying fighting corruption is not only the role of his commission rather responsibilities of all Nigerians.
He said, ”The collaboration with NUJ is to have strategic ideas to have contributions on next phase of Anti corruption objectives by having robust programs to rub minds on how to promote transparency and accountability in our transactions aimed at building the country. I believe that without a vibrant media, the fight against corruption will be meaningless."
Also speaking, the NUJ President, Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi thanked ICPC for the collaboration and directed all Chairmen in their respective states to initiate such a move with the head of ICPC to have similar collaboration.
He described the media as the catalyst for any meaningful development in the society or country, hence his decision to collaborate with ICPC in trying to promote transparency and accountability in our MDAs.
Comrade Alhassan said the nomination of 36 states NUJ Chairmen including that of the FCT Abuja among the 60 Journalists was a deliberate one to champion the anti corruption crusade across the country.
The training was attended by ICPC management, some NUJ national officers and Chairmen of NUJ State Councils among other media practitioners.
