A Reporter with Blueprint newspapers, Mr Kehinde Osasona, was among the over 20 professional Journalists honoured at the first induction / fellowship of the Fourth Estate Professional Society (FFPS) which took place in Ilorin, Kwara state capital over the weekend.
By the conferment of Fellow status, Osasona, a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and an associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) will oversee the Abuja Chapter of the association as it’s provisional chairman.
Also at the high-octane occasion, 12 other states provisional chairmen were also inducted and bestowed with the fellow honour.
Speaking as a special guest at the induction ceremony, the former minister of sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, expressed disappointment over the modern-day journalism practice, saying that professional ethics have been jettisoned.
Abdullahi, who spoke on the topic; “Sustaining standard media practice during economic recession and Social challenges”, further noted that Journalists have become an endangered species, adding that the menace of fake news, and sensationalism which have taken over the media space and killing journalism practice was strange to the noble profession.
He said, “Journalists have become an endangered species in the jungle. Not only that, now, we are reading stories that could trigger war by all manners of writers from different medium and you begin to imagine if this is the new definition of media practice.
“The advent of the social media has also given room for some people to peddle fake news as an alternative path which has caused a lot of harm to the practice.”
The former minister nevertheless reminded practicing Journalists at the occasion to always remember that facts are sacred, insisting that a trained Journalist must always follow the professional ethics in the discharge of their duties.
Also speaking at the occasion, the first national president of the association, Dr. Babatunde Salami, said the emergence of the Fourth Estate Professional Society was timely, expressing hope that the journalism profession would be more protected and elevated.
He said, “I accept this prestigious challenge on behalf of my professional Colleagues because of my believe and the need to lend an unhindered support for journalism practitioners and to further enhance the welfare of Journalists in Nigeria and globally.
“I salute those that have assisted in sustaining and shaping the vision and mission of the society inspite of uncertainty, hostility and risk of being misunderstood by some professional colleagues,” Salami noted
Salami thereafter charged both the NUJ and the FPS on the need to collectively improve the lots of members and their welfare, saying the two association are assets and must leave good legacy
The ceremony which was chaired by the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, HRM Oba Sikiruu Atanda Sani, also had in attendance the Kwara state NUJ Chairman, Mallam Umar Abdulwahab, his NIPR counterpart, Dr. Saa’dat Abdulbaqi, the General Manager NTA, Mr Waheed Popoola, represented by Manager News and Current Affaurs, Mr Yemi Akintunde, General Manager, The Herald Newspapers Mr Yomi Adeboye were among other dignitaries who all spoke at the occasion.
