NUJ FCT seeks collaboration with VON on press freedom, ethical journalism

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, led by Comrade Grace Ike, is seeking a partnership with the Voice of Nigeria (VON) to support press freedom, promote ethical journalism, and improve the welfare and skills of journalists in the nation’s capital city.

Ike shared this during a visit to the Managing Director of VON, Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, and his management team. The purpose of the visit, she explained, was to strengthen their working relationship, celebrate shared values, and reaffirm their commitment to improving journalism in Nigeria.

She emphasised that the NUJ FCT is keen to collaborate with institutions like VON, which is known for its factual reporting and national storytelling. This partnership, she said, would focus on supporting journalists’ welfare, advocating for press freedom, and promoting ethical journalism in the FCT.

“We are looking at several joint initiatives that could make a real difference to the media landscape,” Ike said. “These include public forums to bring journalists, policymakers, and the public together to discuss key issues, collaborative investigative reporting to uncover important stories, and workshops to train journalists in areas like digital journalism, media ethics, and investigative reporting.”

Ike also noted that these efforts would improve content quality across media platforms and help create a more informed and engaged public. She believes this collaboration can help address challenges facing journalists, raise journalistic standards, and highlight the important role the media plays in society.

She added that VON’s long-standing role in mentoring journalists and encouraging balanced reporting makes it an ideal partner for the NUJ. “Together, we can address challenges such as journalist safety, welfare, and maintaining high ethical standards,” she said. “We also want to promote policies that protect journalists and ensure access to information, while working together to fight misinformation.”

Managing Director/CEO of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace

In response, Malam Ndace urged journalists to uphold values such as honesty, fairness, and openness in their reporting. He stressed that ethical journalism is key to maintaining public trust, holding people accountable, and providing accurate information, especially in an age of rapidly spreading fake news.

“Journalism has never been more important. In a world full of false information, it’s vital that we stand firm and maintain the trust of the public,” Ndace said. “Even if people disagree with us, they should know they can trust that we are doing our job honestly.”

Ndace also encouraged journalists to continually improve their skills and stay updated with new technologies. He advised them to join professional groups to enhance their expertise and explore new ways of earning a stable income.

He assured the NUJ team that VON would continue to work with them to maintain high journalistic standards.

The NUJ delegation included Vice Chairman Yahaya Ndambabo, Secretary Jide Oyekunle, Treasurer Sandra Udeike, and media members Ebriku John Friday and Sharoneez Emephia.