Kwara NUJ strengthens partnership with NYSC to promote professionalism

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Council has reaffirmed its readiness to strengthen the existing partnership with the office of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the state.

Abdullateef ‘Lanre Ahmed, the state NUJ chairman, stated this in Ilorin when he led members of his executive on a courtesy visit to Joshua Onifade, the NYSC State Coordinator.

He said the council was ready to accept corps members on primary assignment, for them to be trained on the rudiments of journalism.

”We believe that this is the time to come together as partners to address the high rate of unemployment.

”We want to let you know that our facilities are open for use and also for us to collaborate on the deployment of corps members to the council as Place of Primary Assignment (PPA).

”As a council, we want to provide a platform for the corps members to learn because it is not about getting ready to be employed, but for them to be employable.

”We want to teach them the rudiments of journalism, which will help them when they finish service.

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”And the rationale is to make them ready to work in the outside world, as practical on the field is different from the theory they were taught in school,” he said.

Ahmed added that NYSC can also use the NUJ Press Centre as a point of convergence for corps members on Editorial Community Development Service Group and also partner NUJ in terms of coverage of events, to avoid misrepresentation.

The Chairman, however, commended the proactiveness of the NYSC leadership to relocate its Orientation Camp from Yikpata, Edu Local Government, to the premises of Kwara Polytechnic, Ilorin, due to insecurity.

In his response, the state NYSC coordinator pledged the scheme’s readiness to strengthen its partnership with the NUJ.

Onifade said the partnership of both bodies is important as stakeholders doing their best to ensure Nigeria is doing well amongst the committee of nations.

He promised to consider the council when sending corps members to their places of primary assignment.

The state coordinator, however, urged Journalists to always uphold professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

”Journalists should be mindful of the headlines they give to their stories, as some of them often negate the body of the stories.

“It is not a good thing to shun Journalists from interviews, but we shouldn’t be misrepresented.

”Let people be bold to talk to Journalists, and if we present Nigeria or Kwara badly, we will suffer for it.

”Journalists should be using their media to change the mindset and orientation of the youth,” he advised.