Journalism, as a profession
stands out as one of the oldest modern professions to take root and flourish in
Nigeria. It has been in existence in Nigeria since the establishment of “IWE
IROHIN FUN AWON EGBA ATI YORUBA” in Abeokuta, 147 years ago by the Christian
Missionaries.
After the amalgamation of the
southern and the northern protectorate and with the spread and acceptance of
Western Education, individuals who later turned out to be among our founding
fathers saw journalism as an instrument of enlightening people as well as a
weapon against the oppression and injustices of the colonial system of
government.
Nigeria Union of journalists, NUJ, was founded under a six-man
inaugural Executive Council on the 15th of March 1955 at St. Paul school,
Breadfruit Street, Lagos.
It was created so as to
actualize a common forum by some early nationalist who fought for independence
in Nigeria through the “power of the pen”
One of the nationalist who is
also a journalist with the zeal to fight for independence was first Governor
General of Nigeria, the late Rt Hon. (Dr.) Nnamdi Azikwe. Another person is the
first premier of defunct Western Region, the late Chief Obafemi Awolwo. The
late Saudana of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa , Late Herbert
Macaulay and H.O Davies were also patriots.
Many of these patriots and early
times media practitioners have the dream of establishing a common forum for
Nigeria Journalists.
A member of the London institute
of Journalism who is a Nigerian, Chief Olu Oyesanya formed the National Union
of Journalist (also N.U.J), Britain joined the other patriots to establish
N.U.J. On his return to Nigeria in 1954, he joined the colonial government as
an information officer and he spread the information of the Nigerian Union of
Journalist.
N.U.J has a working constitution
i.e. a set of rules and regulation of the union which include the election of
the National leaders.
When the union was almost a
century old, professional regulatory body as well as unionizing practitioners
was established.
FUNCTIONS OF THE NIGERIA UNION OF JOURNALISTS
1. Safeguarding freedom of the press
2. Freedom of Journalists
3. Enhancing legitimate professional activities
4. To collect, preserve and publish statistical and other information as
may be useful for professional purposes
5. To negotiate conditions of service and establish welfare schemes
for members
6. Adequate training and education of members
7. Ensuring strict adherence to the journalism’s code of Ethics
8. Collaborating with organizations with similar objectives to defend the
rights of Nigerian citizens and society at large
No doubt this lateness has its
effects on development of the profession as well as its practitioners
The Union has a training wing,
the International Institute of Journalism located in Abuja, which was
established towards the realisation of its vision to train and retrain its
cadres and to prepare them adequately to contribute more effectively to
National Development. Presently, the registered membership of Nigeria Union of
Journalists is above 25,000
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