NUJ SEEKS COLLABORATION WITH BAYELSA HEAD OF SERVICE TO TRAIN JOURNALIST

Mrs. Biobelemoye Charles-Onyeama, the Head of Bayelsa State Civil Service, has stressed the need for collaboration with the Nigerian Union of Journalist, NUJ for proper information dissemination, maintaining that journalists help in portraying the state in positive form.

Mrs. Charles-Onyeama, made the assertion when Comrade Tonye Yemoleigha, Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalist, NUJ Bayelsa State Council, led other state executives on a courtesy visit to her office.

She expressed optimism that the upcoming media summit which is to be hosted by the state council of the NUJ would be successful hoping that issues affecting the state and country at large would be discussed.

While stressing the need for training and retraining for journalist to enable them perform optimally in carrying out their services, she however advised them not to always depend on government for training and promised to collaborate with NUJ Bayelsa Council to organize retraining for journalists in the state adding that capacity building is one of her major pillars.

On the demand for recognizing certificates obtained by journalist from the International Institute of Journalism, IIJ affiliated to the University of Maiduguri, by the Bayelsa State Government, Mrs. Mrs. Charles-Onyeama, stated the IIJ Certificate cannot be recognized in the state because the institute is seen as a distant learning institute.

While noting that the policy will be revisited, she added that those with the certificate should know that it is not recognized in the state. She advised all to pass through the main institutions, saying it is only Nigeria Institute of Journalism in Lagos that the state recognizes.

Mrs. Onyema also added that the policy will be stated in black and white to make Bayelsa people know that IIJ Certificate is not recognized.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Comrade Tonye Yemoleigha, the chairman of NUJ Bayelsa Council had complained that IIJ Certificate has not been recognized in the state adding that other states are accepting it.

Comrade Yemoleigha who also spoke to newsmen after the visit, called on the state to look into it maintaining that those that have the certificate are not being promoted.

He also solicited support for the forthcoming Bayelsa Media Submit.

He called on the Head of Service to help in retraining Journalist in the state stating that we have less than 30 percent qualified journalists in the state.

Correspondent Isaac Eyedoude reports that the visit is in   furtherance of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Bayelsa State Council’s leadership commitment to explore areas of mutual benefit between the Union and critical stakeholders.