THE Founder and Chairman Governing Council of Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN), Kano, Prof Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo has charged Journalists in the country to always look beyond religious, ethnic and regional affiliation while discharging their professional duties.
Prof Gwarzo gave the charge on Wednesday, 25th January, 2023, when the national leaders of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by its National President, Chief Chris Isiguzo paid him a courtesy visit at the University Campus, Hotoro GRA, Kano.
He said the call was necessary in view of the fact that Nigeria is a big country with religious and cultural diversity.
“The profession really needs people with a diplomatic mind because Nigeria is a big country with different people of cultural backgrounds.
“Sometimes the problem of Nigeria is religion or tribalism because if we keep having that thinking, this country will not move forward.
“So, we have to go beyond all these to enable the country to move forward and attain the much needed socio-economic and political development,” he said.
Prof. Gwarzo, who was the President of Protection of Journalists Rights in Africa, called on journalists to always demonstrate utmost objectivity in their reportage in view of the critical role they play in promoting national unity.
While urging journalists to be bilingual to enable them compete internationally, the former President of Protection of Journalists Rights in Africa, said the University would collaborate with the NUJ with a view to internationalizing the Union for the benefit of its members.
Earlier, the NUJ President, Chief Chris Isiguzo, who lauded Prof Gwarzo for his ingenuity, said the union would look for areas of collaboration with MAAUN.
He added that the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) would partner with the University so that students of the Institute could have the opportunity of benefitting from the past experiences of lecturers of University.
The NUJ President, who was accompanied by the National secretary, Shu’aibu Usman Leman, Kano State Council chairman, Abbas Ibrahim and NUJ Kano State Correspondent Chapel Chairman, Ibrahim Garba Shu’aibu among others were taken round some places in the University.
The places include the newly constructed Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed Twin-Lecture Theatre, Ibrahim Usman Yakasai Sports Complex, School of Nursing Sciences, School of Computing, School of Health Sciences and School of Social and Management Sciences.
Among the top management staff of the University present at the occasion include the Vice President Administration, Dr. Habib Awais Abubakar, Vice President Campus Life, Dr. Hamza Garba and some staff members of the Corporate Communication and Protocol Unit of the University.