Prof Ebobrah Tasks Bayelsa Journalists To Challenge Social Injustice In The Society

 

As the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bayelsa State rounds up with its 2025 Presa Week, Professor Solomon Tamarabrakemi Ebobrah,  Vice Chancellor of University  of Africa, Toru-Oruo, Bayelsa State has advised journalists in the state to lift themselves up and challenge every act  of Social Injustice going in the society.

This was as he advised that the NUJ should change the believe that the Press Week is a yearly ritual maintaining that  the  programme should make more meaning to journalists in the state other than a  normal ritual.

Speaking  as  the Chairman of occasion at the NUJ Press Center at the weekend during a public lecture with  the  topic, Media, Social.Justic and National Development and award giving ceremony to mark this year's  Press Week, Professor Ebobrah, disclosed that Journalists should stop playing victims of  social injustice going on the Society.

Professor Ebrobrah  stated:  "I want you to take  out the believe that the NUJ Press week is a yearly ritual because ritual means doing something  without any meaning. Instead,  NUJ Press Week,  ought to be something that has meaning.

You should  take out this believe that this is a ritual so that there will be a little more willingness to the event.

"Also, that thing called Social Justice, what does it mean?  It means that  everything should be done in privileges, in asses and in resources.

 

"Let's  not also not think that  social injustice should make people  to sleep into a condition of victimhood and   for people to continually feel that we are the victims to a system that lacks social justice.

" I feel that we should not find ourselves as NUJ in that sleeping slope where we move continually about our victimhood. Of course, if you look around you, there is a possibility to claim victimhood.

" I think it is more important to have this conversation  to  lift yourselves and challenge the lack of  social justice. As journalist you are privileged people but it comes with a responsibility which is captured in the phrase fourth estate of the realm, especially as regards to ensuring that social justice is realized in our society. 

"Although there is no complete society. It is a constant  and continuous struggle  but my message is that as journalists, you have a privilege that imposes and obligation and responsibility on you to avoid the track of victimhood but be the conveyors of the message that justice is required in our society especially for those of us in  this part of the country."

In  his welcome remarks, Tonye Yemoleigha, Chairman of NUJ, Bayelsa State, describing  the yearly Press Week as a yearly ritual, thanked all for coming stating that their presence was  another affirmation of the partnership all must collectively forge on to keep society truly informed, educated and entertained while setting the agenda and correlating the environment for development.

Mentioning some of his achievements in the last one year as  the chairman of NUJ, he  said the noble achievements would not have been possible without the unwavering support and meaningful input of critical stakeholders and partners.

 He said: " Our success story will also be attributed to  our amiable Governor, Douye Diri, and his Deputy who have always been there, supporting us all the way.  

"The theme for this year's Press Week reflects the essence of our calling and the media as a Public Sphere wherein expressed thoughts must be rightly sifted, framed and aggregated for the common good of society.

"Our appreciation also goes to the always supportive Honourable Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon. (Mrs) Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai; the Bayelsa State House of Assembly led by the Rt Hon. Speaker, High Chief Abraham Ingobere; the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) under the visionary leadership of Chief Samuel Ogbuku, PhD;  the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCMDB) as well as all security formations in the state among others."

Commissioner Information, Orientation  and Strategy Bayelsa State, in her Remarks  said that she has had good working relationship with the NUJ asking that the cordial relationship should continue.

Represented by Ifiemeya Anthony Boisei,  Permanent Secretary of the ministry, the Commissioner, wished the members of NUJ good deliberations.

In his lecture presentation, Professor John Kalama, head of Department, Political Science, Federal University, Otuoke maintained that Media cannot be removed entirely when issues of  national development  or governance are being discussed in the country.

 He said that the the pursuit of social justice and national development continue to pose a serious challenge  to both leaders and citizens  adding that Media should actively support national calls such as Justice and Equity.

He said that it is actually the duty of the Media to create  awareness in the society, educate citizens about their rights, advocate for the vulnerable by giving a voice to the poor and to the women. 

"The media highlights social injustices. Also agenda setting role, helps in information dissemination adding that  journalist should be protected during conflicts  to ensure that they perform their duties very well.

 He stated that "There is need to strengthen media independence and freedom of expression to ensure that citizens are not intimidated or arrested for expressing their opinion on critical national issues.

"Promote ethical journalism and fact-checking. Invest in media literacy for citizens. Encourage collaboration between media, civil society, and government agencies.Support community media to reach grassroots populations among other things."

 High point of the ceremony was a panel discussion and award giving to the likes of  Governor Douye Diri,  Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, Oforji Oboku,

Daniel Charles, and the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Francis Idu for the visible passion and result oriented approach to   fighting crime and criminality.