Wednesday, 21 July, marked another landmark achievement for the Comrade Ademola Babalola-led Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, with the launch of a novel 30-acre Journalists’ Estate.
The project located at Alapako, on Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, tagged “Legacy Project of Demola Babalola-led executive”, was initiated as a way of solving one of the major plights of not only the Nigerian journalists but other citizens who suffered and went through the agony of getting roofs on their heads.
The Journalists’ Estate was conceptualized as a multipurpose project that will feature housing estates, recreational facilities, schools, health centres, a police station, hospitality havens and a host of others.
The launching ceremony which was held at the Dapo Aderogba Hall, NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan was attended by a representative of Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi, the Chief of Staff to the governor. Others in attendance include the Chief Launcher of the day and Chairman, Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort, Chief Dotun Sanusi, represented by his Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr Hazeez Ayansola; the co-launcher and founder, American Polytechnic of Nigeria, Dr Oludare Akande, who was represented by the Managing Director of his newly launched Bellagio Air, Captain Abioye Abdulkareem as well as the National President of the NUJ, Chief Chris Isiguzo, represented by the Chairman, Lagos State Council of the union, Comrade Adeleye Ajayi.
The occasion also witnessed a lecture titled, “Nigerian Journalists and the Search for National Unity”, delivered by the Managing Editor of THISDAY Newspaper, Mr Bolaji Adebiyi.
Setting the tone for the event, Comrade Babalola, in his welcome address, said the proposed Journalists’ Estate will be a megacity where members of the public, especially friends of journalists including corporate and boardroom gurus, politicians, patrons alike, could build private and commercial facilities and own estates, including road networks/avenue to be named after them within the sprawling Alapako community.
According to him, “The union was able to source for a 10 million naira loan facility instead of the full payment for about 100 million worth of 30-acres land for the proposed estate, situate and lying at kilometre 25, Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
“As we speak today, we have defrayed a bank loan to the tune of about eight millionaires in four months, leaving us with the whopping sum of about N65 million to pay to the vendor. While colleagues are not being paid regular salaries and those who receive are yet to come to terms with the economic hardship facing us all. About 20 others have subscribed and are paying every month.”
In his remarks, Governor Seyi Makinde described the project as a laudable initiative that is in tandem with what the state is known for. The governor, who encouraged other people to key into the initiative, promised to support the union to make the project a reality.
Similarly, the Chief launcher and co-launcher respectively commended the union for being resolute in the face of stiff resistance to media practice and promise to support the project.
On his part, Mr Isiguzo, stressed the need to own a shelter, especially after retirement when income is no longer rolling in to pay rents, is very important.
He added that a good housing policy for NUJ members as initiated by the present executive of the Oyo State council is worthy of commendation as it would erase a repeat of the sad tales of the past when journalists would retire without personal homes.
“The project is a pointer to the deep concern the Oyo State Council of the NUJ has as welfare programmes for its members. This giant stride tagged “Legacy Project of Demola Babalola-led executive in the state” will go a long way in solving one of the major plights of not only the Nigerian journalists but other citizens who suffered and went through the agony of getting roofs on their heads.
“A good housing policy for NUJ members as initiated by the present executive of the Oyo State council is worthy of commendation as it would erase a repeat of the sad tales of the past when journalists would retire without their homes. The distinguishing factor of note is that the Oyo State Council Journalists’ Estate will be a multipurpose project having been conceptualized to house housing estates, recreational facilities, schools, health centres, a police station, hospitality havens and a host of others.
“You will recall that Lagos State Council also has a housing scheme which was executed about 18 to 19 years ago for its members at Arepo in Ogun State. It is also worthy to know that another housing estate by the Lagos State Council is about to take off the ground at Mowe/Ofada Abaren land in Ogun State.
“It may also interest us to know that plans are underway to replicate what is happening here in other states. Already, the governors of Nasarawa, Bauchi and Katsina states, as well as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, have approved the request by the National President for the provision of land for the construction of media villages in the aforementioned states. As we speak, several hectares of land have been acquired and allocated to journalists in Enugu Council for the same purpose. The present national leadership of our great union has taken the issue of housing for journalists seriously and will not rest until every journalist can live under his/her roof.
“I am pleased to hear that the housing scheme we are launching today is open to both journalists and friends of the media, including politicians, captains of industry, professionals and others. I commend the move to name the road networks after His Excellency, Governor Makinde and four other past governors of Oyo State. I also commend the plan to immortalize some prominent Nigerians including the NUJ National President with street naming.”
While delivering his lecture, the guest lecturer, Mr Adebiyi, blamed the Federal Government for not doing enough in its discharge of social justice, stressing that as long as the government is not able to carry out social justice, there will continue to be persecution of journalists.
According to him, “What is media in the first place? The media does not create news. It works on reports it got. What is reported is the creation of society. When the government wants to be mischievous, they refer to the report as fake news. That does not come from the media as we know it. If you talk about social media, social media is not journalism, and there is nothing like “Citizen Journalism”. If the government is unable to provide for the basic needs, and it continues to treat citizens as if they do not matter, that will reflect in the report sent out, and the government will not like it. They will call it favouritism and what is there for us as a solution?”
“First as the solution is that the various bodies; NUJ, Guild of Editors, NPAN and other stakeholders have to step up their game. The media must remain relevant to the public so that when there are attempts to persecute the media, the public will rise in its defence. Today, because of the adverse impact of social media, many of the reports being complained about emanate mostly from Facebook. As for the mainstream media, there is the need to up the game. But that will not be possible until we resolve those issues of welfare conditions within the industry,” he submitted.
Reacting to the inconsistencies in the activities of media handlers in the presidency, Mr Adebiyi, who had once served as Special Assistant to late President Musa Yar’adua and Dr Goodluck Jonathan said; “I must confess that it is extremely difficult to package a bad product. From experience, I know that sometimes the principals listen to us, and sometimes they don’t. Even though the media people could be competent, if they are not given free hand to operate, there will be problems like we are having. Once a product is bad, there is little or nothing you can do to sell it.”
“What I can see in the case of the present government is that the media handlers cannot claim not to have access to their principal, but I feel that they are unable to convince their principal about the implication of the policies that they promulgate. And when that happens, it is either you resign or you defend the policy. There is no question of “I told Oga, but he didn’t listen”/So, for me, let us just be patient. 2023 is around the corner. Nothing can be achieved until after 2023,” he said.
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