By Ahmed Abba
Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, the Yobe Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, has lauded journalists in the state for for their dedication, resilience and sacrifice to duty.
Bego, gave the commendation while declaring open a two-day workshop for journalists organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Yobe council on Tuesday in Kano.
“Since the creation of Yobe, about 32 years ago the journalists in state have been doing a wonderful job of reporting what is happening across the nooks and crannies of the state.
“I especially want to recognise and laud your contributions during the 12 years of Boko Haram insurgents.
“A time when many people were leaving Yobe, no single journalist left the state because of the insurgency.
“All of you stayed back, doing your jobs even under very difficult and sometimes threatening circumstances,” he said.
He added that the story of how Boko Haram insurgency was overcome could not be completed without the contribution the journalists had made.
Bego called on the media practitioners to adjust to the modern ways of news reporting posed by technology and the advent of social media.
He noted that people most people no longer depend on conventional news sources but resorted to social media, which he described as challenging to journalists.
“This is very important and a serious challenge that journalists have to rise to.
“Advent of social media is clearly an opportunity. Unfortunately, many of the members of the NUJ have not seized the opportunity as journalist,” the commissioner said.
He lamented that most journalists do not utilise social the media platforms to advance their career, public engagement or a means making extra income.
Bego emphasised the importance of unity and teamwork between NUJ state councils respective chapels.
“It will cost you nothing to work together and unite around common purposes and common objectives.
“Operating individually undermines your capacity as a very responsible body,” he advised.
Mr Rajab Isma’il , the Chairman of the NUJ Yobe Council commended Yobe Government under Gov Mai Mala Buni’s administration for facilitating the workshop.
The Chairman, who also presented a paper, expressed appreciate to Dr. Sani Safiyanu, Dr Abdullahi Zainawa, Dr Muktar Bello and Dr Tasiu Magaji, who also presented papers at the workshop.
He encouraged the participants to dedicate the knowledge they acquired during the workshop to the progress of Yobe and the entire nation.
Alhaji Muhammed Abubakar, one of participants said the importance of the training could not be over-emphasised.
He enjoined co-participants to step down the knowledge to other colleagues who were not opportune to be at the occasion.
(NAN)
