Journalists across the nation had been charged to upheld the ethical principles of Journalism while reporting and covering the forth coming general elections for a peaceful coexistence of the nation
The State Minister of Works and Housing Alhaji Umar El-Yakub made the call during a closing ceremony of a two day workshop organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Information Chapel in Kano State for Zonal Information Officers and Area Information Officers in all the local government Councils of the State
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El-Yakub reminded the Journalists of their critical role in keeping the public informed on issues regarding the general elections, pointing out that the Information disseminators and the Media practitioners has to be extra careful while handling delicate issues like elections coverage in a multi cultural society like Nigeria.
He similarly urged the Local Government Information Officers to display high sense of professionalism while updating the public on situation report of elections and announcement of elections results,saying that people place high premium on the media as the only source of credible information especially during elections period.
El Yakub then commended the Information Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists for coming up with the workshop which he said is apt and timely.
In his speech the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Alhaji Bashir Sani Yola who represented the Commissioner of Information said the workshop has come at a right time and urged the Information Officers to use what they learned during the workshop for a hitch free elections in the State.
He assured the Information Officers of the Ministry’s support at all the times pointing out that the Commissioner as a professional Journalist has placed high premium on Information Officers and their service at both MDA’s and Local Government Levels
While delivering his speech the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Abbas Ibrahim said the workshop open a new horizon for information Officers to avail themselves with new trend of information technology in elections reportage, highlighting that such initiative of Information Chapel should be emulated by all other chapels.
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In his closing remarks the Chairman of the Information Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Suleiman Abdullahi Dederi said the genesis of staging the workshop is to among others gingered the Information Officers on their exalted role before during and after the general elections,he also saluted the Special Guest of Honor Alhaji Umar El Yakub for sponsoring the workshop, the Commissioner of Information,State Chairman, Comrade Abbas Ibrahim and all the participants for attending the workshop
Series of compendium were presented by resource persons which dwelt on the strategies and modalities of elections coverage and reportage in accordance with ethical principles of Journalism,
A statement by Uba Abdullahi Public Relations Practitione said the resource persons during the event include: Comrade Ali M Ali, Dr Ibrahim Surajo of the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano. Comrade Ahmad Adamu Maulud of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Kano Office.
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