Yesterday, 8th December, 2017 and Day Two of the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Press Week will forever remain historic, as the State Council of NUJ paid visits to her sick members to identify with them in their moments of indisposition and to celebrate the Press Week first with them.
Leading the delegation was the Council Chairman, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu who underscored the need for the NUJ to always show love and celebrate her members while they are still alive. He said it was almost becoming a routine for media practitioners and the public to immediately forget a Journalist once he or she is out of circulation, revealing that by divine intervention that has come to stop.
“We must learn to celebrate ourselves while we are alive. We must show love to one another first; and learn to share burdens as colleagues and Comrades. That should be the spirit; it should truly represent our Labour slogan – Solidarity Forever!”, he said.
The visits were laden with emotions, just as the bedridden members were convinced that the Union has their interests at heart.
Those that were visited included Comrades Tunde Andrew, the former Asaba Correspondent of Silverbird Television who had been physically down for over a year; Ifeanyi Oranye, a staff of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who was recently involved in an accident during his father in-law’s burial; and of course, Bernard Okpu, the former Chairman of the Delta State Council of NUJ of over 18 years ago and had been bedridden with stroke for over 10 years now.
In all of these visits, prayers were said on behalf of the sick members and their families, while the Chairman presented a token donation of cash from the Council to them.
Comrade Bernard Okpu, a former Chairman of the State Council was extremely happy for the visit, affirming it was first of its kind from the NUJ. He gave very salient advice to the State Working Committee and his blessings for the Press Week and the Council.
