The Emir of Dutse in Jigawa State, Dr Hameem Nuhu Sanusi, has raised concerns over the unethical practices of untrained and inexperienced quacks, warning that their activities are damaging the reputation of the journalism profession.
He made these observations during a courtesy visit to his palace by the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, alongside members of his Executive Council. The union leaders were in Dutse for the routine quarterly National Executive Council (NEC) meeting hosted by the Jigawa State Council of the NUJ.
Dr Hameem Nuhu Sanusi described the intrusion of untrained individuals into modern media practice as disheartening, noting that the dissemination of false, distorted, and unbalanced reports threatens societal peace and stability.
To address the issue, the monarch urged the NUJ National President to establish a robust committee tasked with identifying and removing the “rotten eggs” from the media space to restore credibility to the field.
Emphasizing the vital role of the media as the fourth estate of the realm, the monarch stated that journalism serves as the foundation for achieving a lasting democracy and possesses the power to either build or destroy democratic structures. He added that to demonstrate the value his emirate places on the profession, a veteran journalist was appointed to the Emirate Council.
Responding during the visit, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi explained that the delegation called on the palace to pay homage to the royal father, appreciating his sustained backing of the NUJ both locally and nationally, following the legacy of his late father. He highlighted the essential role traditional rulers play as custodians of peace in guiding the union toward greater effectiveness.
During the audience, the NUJ President, accompanied by Jigawa NUJ Chairman Comrade Ismail Ibrahim Dutse, conferred the Honorary Award of Jigawa NUJ Patron on the Emir.
Following the palace visit, the NUJ national executives toured various agricultural, educational, road, and empowerment initiatives executed by Governor Namadi’s administration before commencing the technical session of their NEC meeting. As part of the three-day program, the NUJ President is scheduled to hold discussions with the Jigawa NUJ Veteran Committee.
