Women In Journalism advise practitioners on professionalism, ethics

Media experts on Thursday in Lagos said there was the need to entrench professionalism and uphold ethical standards in journalism practice in the country.


The experts, under the aegis of Women in Journalism (WIJ) Africa, spoke at the group’s award with the theme ``Stand Up for Ethics and Excellence’’ for accomplished female journalists.

They lamented the unwholesome conduct of social media journalists in the country.

Mrs Ifeayinwa Omowole, the National President, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), stressed the need for journalists to use the training opportunities available online to develop themselves.

Omowole, one of the awardees, also urged journalists to imbibe the culture of investigative journalism to correct societal ills.

She also advised the practitioners in Lagos to key into the insurance scheme of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to guard against eventualities.

Receiving the award for her contributions to the profession and dedicated service to humanity, Omowole commended the NUJ for helping her to realise her vision to provide houses to practitioners.

``I dedicate this award to ``NAWOJIANS’’ and I want to say thank you to NUJ, I had a vision to provide affordable houses for journalists and they supported me with land.

``From Lagos we are moving to the Niger Delta, North-East and to other parts of the country to provide affordable houses for journalists,’’ the NAWOJ president said.

Also, another award recipient, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, lamented the decline in investigative journalism.

She advised professionals to adhere to ethics and excellence in spite of the threat of compromise by social media practitioners.

Dabiri-Erewa also urged Nigerians to endure the hardship caused by the change vision of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

``This country has plummeted, it has been badly managed. Let us be optimistic of good things to come, we have to work together to make Nigeria what it is supposed to be,’’ she said.

In her remarks, Mrs Bimbo Oloyede, a broadcaster, urged members of WIJ to think deeply about the principles and consistency that was required before arriving at the excellence they desired.

``The theme of the event is very apt and not just for only women but all journalists.

``It is important for us to adhere to guidelines and ethics and also important for us to aim for excellence,’’ she said.

Some of the people honoured are Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole, President, NAWOJ, Mrs Aghata Amata and Mrs Ibim Semenitari, a former Acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).