The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, on Wednesday, played host to the leadership of the Conference of Online Publishers in Akwa Ibom State (COOPA), led by the Chancellor, Mr. Utitofon Ukpong.
Chairman of the Union, Comrade Amos Etuk, who received the new COOPA Executive at the NUJ Secretariat in Uyo, congratulated members of the organisation on their successful 2023 Conference/Election held recently in Eket.
Flanked by the State Working Committee of NUJ, Etuk while acknowledging the dominance of the new media, expressed the Union’s readiness to partner with COOPA and quelled insinuations of a cold war between the NUJ and online publishers in the state.
“There was a time when the traditional media used to feel threatened about the dominance of the social media, but we had this Conference four years ago in Abeokuta where we started creating awareness that rather than have a division against the social media, let’s embrace it and also encourage our members to be strategic in having a strong online presence.”
“Today, I am excited that we have a lot of NUJ members who have blogs and are active too on the social media. We don’t know what it will be in the next ten years, but we try to encourage ourselves that today, the social media has the space”, he said.
“Be reassured that COOPA and NUJ will be partners. We have never been rivals or seen ourselves as enemies. We just needed to streamline a lot of things for us to have that synergy. Now that the synergy has come and the NUJ Constitution has recognised Online Publishers, there is need for us to work hand-in-hand for the growth of this noble and well-respected profession”, he said.
Comrade Etuk urged the new COOPA Chancellor to prioritise the training of members and particularly saluted the ingenuity of the immediate-past Chancellor, Comrade Ifreke Nseowo who he noted led the group to limelight.
“The same hand of fellowship that we gave to the immediate past Chancellor, Ifreke Nseowo, is the same hand of fellowship that we’ll give to you. We are even giving you stronger because we want you to succeed.”
“Your responsibility is that you have to move COOPA out of Lagos and out of Nigeria. You have to start looking at the West African hubs and engage with colleagues from other sub-regions on how you can develop yourselves. Wherever you feel NUJ can give you that support, I want to tell you that we’re always ready at every point to support”, he added.
Earlier, the Chancellor of COOPA, Mr. Utitofon Ukpong, appealed for a cordial working relationship between the NUJ and COOPA, especially, in the area of capacity development as well as defence of members against intimidation or harassment in the course of their official duties.
Ukpong further appreciated the Union for its support over the years and made a case for the restoration of the ‘Online Publisher of the Year Award’ in the NUJ Press Week Awards, to give a sense of belonging to some Journalists registered with both organisations.
Prayers were offered for the success of the new COOPA Executive.
