Taraba Press week: clergy encourages Journalists to be arbiters
Jethro Yerga, Jalingo
As the celebration of Taraba State Press Week continue to roll, a clergy of the Supreme King’s Church Jalingo, Pastor Simon Ata, has charged Journalists in Nigeria to be arbiters of their country as they go about discharging their duties in their various media houses
Pastor Ata was preaching on a theme; “be a publisher of good report”, at a special thanksgiving service organized by Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, as part of the activities carefully lined up to commemorate the 2025 press week in the state
Reading from Numbers 13:26 – 33, the clergy frowned at situations where Journalists fly frightening and sensational reports that scare people and their leaders such as was done by the other ten scouts who were sent along side Joshua and Caleb to the land of Canan
He narrated that only Joshua and Caleb, out of the 12 scouts who were sent by Moses to explore the land of Canan, brought back good report
“The ten scouts brought scaring reports saying that the people living there were too powerful and their towns were large and fortified. They even said they saw giants there
“This frightening report scared the people of Israel and their leaders untill Caleb and Joshua came in and restored hope in the people, assuring them that they would certainly conquered the land”. He added
Pastor Ata charged Nigeria Journalists to avoid evil reports capable of making leaders feel dejected, but should emulate Joshua and Caleb by always setting agenda for the society and proffering solutions to issues through research and investigative reports.
He charged Journalists to also avoid sensational stories, adding that such evil reports never mend broken walls but rather cause unnecessary chaos and hatred among members of the society.
Earlier in his speech at the occasion, the chairman, NUJ, Taraba State Council, Comr Mathew Eliud Jen, stressed the critical role Journalists play in the development of Nigeria and called on people in the state to join the Taraba State Council of NUJ in celebrating its 2025 press week
Interacting with Journalists Shortly after the service, Hon John Musa, Nigeria former Ambassador to Trinida and Tobago, the chairperson NAWOJ, Taraba State chapter, Mrs Jeneth Audu and the Special Adviser to Governor Kefas on Agriculture and Food security, Hon Zanau Hassan Maikasua, all lauded the resilience of journalists towards keeping the public abreast at all times and congratulated NUJ on its 70 years of media practice in Nigeria
Meanwhile, the special thanksgiving service which was graced by throng of practicing and veterans Journalists as well as several political demagogues in the state, featured song ministration and special prayers for men of the pen profession//
