Journalist equip journalists with facemasks to prevent coronavirus spread

A veteran journalist and Managing Editor of PerSecondnews,Dele Akinsola has equipped journalists in Ogun State with facemasks as part of their working tools in preventive of the coronavirus pandemic.

Penpushing reports that Akinsola made the presentation on behalf of the organisation to the leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at Iwe-Iroyin Press Centre, located at Oke-Ilewo area of Abeokuta.

The managing editor in a speech read on behalf of Femi Soneye, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer(CEO)  of  Persecondnews online, noted that at  a time like this it is imperative ‘for us to be our brothers’ keeper, show love and give back to the profession of journalism’.

‘Heaven, they say, helps those who help themselves. Journalists as members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm after the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary are empowered by Section 22 of Chapter two of the 1999 Constitution as one of the tripod stands on which our democracy rests, thrives and flourishes by upholding public officials accountable to the people. But it must be stressed that only accurate and factual reports can do this’.

Penpushing further reports that, the veteran journalist pointed out that without  a free press and free speech democracy is endangered, and also urged  his  colleagues to aggressively report research findings and investigations on coronavirus  therapeutics especially the local cure – herbal or orthodox — toward defeating the virus as we did in previous national health crises and disasters.

‘I urge you as colleagues to aggressively report research findings and investigations on COVID-19 therapeutics especially the local cure – herbal or orthodox — toward defeating the virus as we did in previous national health crises and disasters’, Akinsola said.

The managing editor said, he recalled with nostalgia journalists  efforts and struggles on a heroic scale to fight the military to a standstill and return the country to constitutional democracy in 1999, stating that this has  not been adequately rewarded and reciprocated by the political class with some of them scandalously harassing, brutalizing and  clamping down on the media.

‘The media, in spite of its imperfections like democracy, are indispensable to the nation’s fledgling democracy of about 21 years and to the Nigeria Project. Today as a result of the state of the economy, thousands of journalists have lost their jobs due to permanent shutdown of their organizations while others are being owed one or two years salaries’.

Penpushing also reports that, Akinsola passionately appealed to government at all levels on need to patronize the media to stay afloat, and commended recent bold step to give a stimulus package to the media and creative industry by the  Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed describing it as  cheery news and a timely intervention amid coronavirus pandemic.

‘I wish, therefore, to make a passionate appeal to those in authority at all levels – federal, state and local government – to patronize the media – newspapers, magazines, online publications, radio and television stations – to stay afloat’.

‘A recent bold step to give a stimulus package to the media and creative industry by the Hon. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed is cheery news and a timely intervention amid COVID-19 pandemic.  We urge the minister to pursue this agenda to a logical conclusion’.

The veteran journalist commended his colleagues on the effective  coverage of the pandemic  across the country in spite of the attendant risks to the lives of the professionals and urge them  to continue to join forces with the government to rout the virus.

‘Collectively we can and we should. As experts and WHO have said, it is unlikely for the virus to go away soon. There is, therefore, the need for us as journalists to be COVID-19 protocol-compliant, hence the presentation of these items. Please stay safe, play safe, observe physical distancing, use your face mask, wash your hands and use sanitizers’,Akinsola emphasised