By Monday Danladi
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has condoled the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council, over the ghastly motor accident that claimed the lives of two journalists while on official duty, last February.
UNICEF's Chief of Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique led a team of the Fund to the Secretariat of the Union on Monday. She said that the journalists in the state are giving visibility to issues affecting the welfare of women and children in the country.
"Since I have come into this country and the Bauchi Field Office, this is my first experience where we are working so closely with the journalists.
“One of the best teams of journalists I have seen is in Bauchi. And I really thank you for that great team and the great mission you people have in Bauchi and in Nigeria, which is very, very highly needed,” he said.
She described the media as a tool to break bad practices and promote culture positively for everyone, especially for children and women.
"So you are not only our friends, you are part of us. You are part of UNICEF team. You are working for women and children with us. And you know now all these places are very familiar for me. One of you here, he is my brother. He is always with me everywhere whenever I am encouraged by that.”
Rafique expressed condolences to NUJ over the recent deaths of two journalists saying, “I pray for their souls to rest in peace forever. And may the families be comforted, God bless them with the courage to bear these losses. The loss is huge, not only for the journalists, families, even UNICEF. It's a huge loss."
The Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Umaru Saidu, thanked Rafique and her team for finding time to pay the condolence visit saying that it was a demonstration of good leadership and working together.
According to him, "We were there together, and we saw everything that happened leading to the crash. And now we thank God, we lost only two members. We really appreciate the support we have received and the steps taken, especially on the medical aspect of the journalists by the State Governor as well as the NEDC. They have really supported us throughout the period. And Alhamdulillah, as I'm talking to you now, we don't have any patients in the hospital.
Saidu added, "So, I really appreciate your coming and as well as the partnership between UNICEF and journalists in Bauchi State. And as you rightly pointed out, the journalists in Bauchi State, are just like part of UNICEF, it is like their homes."
According to him, "Because we have really enjoyed a lot of training from UNICEF. And I would like to ask for more training, especially because most of the problems we are facing, most of the journalists need special training in special aspects."
He stressed that,"We have really enjoyed the presentations of Mr. Oluseyi Olosunde. Whenever he is making a presentation, you will see that he is not talking with the papers, but he is giving you the experience of what we are witnessing. So honestly, we have enjoyed working with UNICEF."
He added that, "And the partnership between Journalists and UNICEF would not have been possible without the full support and experience handling that aspect by the Communication Officer of UNICEF, Opeyemi Olagunju. We really enjoyed it. I have tried several times to maybe present a certificate to him, the Chief will be my witness, but he refused to give me that one opportunity. He said it's not in the culture of UNICEF."
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