EX NAWOJ PRESIDENT CHARGES TINUBU, NIGERIANS

EX NAWOJ PRESIDENT CHARGES TINUBU, NIGERIANS

A former president of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Alhaja Fatimah Ajibola has sent goodwill messages to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Nigerians at large on the dawn of the New Year, in a media release to welcome 2025, emphasizing that the nation has a lot to be grateful for, despite all the challenges she faced, especially with what the citizens experienced in 2024.

Taking to a global perspective, she reiterated that only a few of the myriad of crises Nigeria has faced across social, economic and political fronts was what led to the collapse of many countries around the world, but Nigeria survived and surmounted them; even though it was not yet El Dorado for the nation.

She called on President Tinubu as the number one Nigerian citizen to further demonstrate more of purposeful leadership through his body language, lifestyle and personal example, which others in leadership positions can emulate and reinvent, down the ladder for the overall good of the country.

Meanwhile, she urged Nigerians home and abroad to renew their hope in Nigeria and reinforce their belief in her breakthrough, while contributing their quota to the growth, progress and prosperity of the country.

As a journalist and even a former national executive member of NUJ and president of NAWOJ, 2007 to 2011, she called on colleagues and the citizens at large to be good ambassadors of the country through their actions and activities in and outside the country, and also her spokespersons through their utterances and posts about the country on social media.

While admitting that 2024 has been especially challenging for media professionals, with numerous obstacles and hurdles that tested their resolve and determination. She opined however, that journalists should persevere and continue to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, with positive vibes, despite the challenges; as all Nigerians suffer from the ill-effects of the bad impressions the world has about the country, from negative vibes at home.

“Even while we, as journalists, should be committed to seeking the truth and holding those in power accountable round the clock, we must do away with bias, sentiment and prejudice, in the best interest of our dear nation”, she said.

She added that, “it cannot be overemphasized that the media has a critical role to play in shaping the narrative of Nigeria and promoting a culture of transparency, accountability and good governance.
Nevertheless, derogation, exaggeration, falsehood and sensationalism, should not dictate the storytelling narrative, to the detriment of ethical journalism and the image of the country”.

She regretted a number of sad incidents that had befallen the nation, such as accidental airstrikes in Kaduna and Sokoto, petrol tanker explosion and inferno in Jigawa, stampede at Ibadan, Okija and Abuja, where lives of poor people were needlessly lost, thereby calling on the government, from federal to the local level, to be more responsible and responsive to the suffering of the ordinary citizens.

Concluding, she wished the president and commander-in-chief, all people in leadership positions and the generality of Nigerians, a year filled with abundance, good health, sanity, prosperity, progress, peace and unity.

Alhaja Fatimah Ajibola