News Editor
Edwin Philip, a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) Nasarawa State council has bagged the NUJ Touch Bearer of Press Freedom Awards 2024 from the National Secretariat of the Union in Abuja over the weekend.
Philip was awarded alongside seven others in the category, his award was predicated on his attack by officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC) while reporting for Breeze Fm Lafia, the Governorship and State Assemble election in Nasarawa State, leading to severe injuries, lost of valuables and was was hospitalised.
Speaking during the award presentation of the awards, the president of the NUJ president, Dr. Chris Isiguzu, said the award is catalyst in the mobilisation of citizenry hold their leaders accountable as well as promote speaking truth to power.
“The press is the fourth arm of government and recognised so in the 1999 Nigerian constitution as amended, it is the duty of the press to hold government and the citizens accountable at different levels”
According to the NUJ president, many Journalist in Nigeria have faced harassment, threat, physical injury, imprisonment and even death in the course of discharging their duties, saying that it is the courage and sacrifice of these Journalist that neccesited the puting up the 2024 Nigerian Union of Journalist ‘Press Freedom and Good Governance Awards.
On his part, Edwin Philip, one of the recipients of the Touch Bearer of Press Freedom Awards, said he is particularly delighted bagging the award, top among other eight colleagues, who were victims of brutality by the people in power, their supporters/sympathisers, security personels being their usual tool of oppression and suppression of the free press.
“Am also saddened with the same energy of my delightfulness feeling that I stood on that podium to receive the award Saturday night, on the blood and agony of colleagues some dead, missing, incacereted and incapacitated, not because they committed any crimes against the State but rather were religiously abiding by Nigeria 1999 constitution as amended in section 33 and 39 and article of 4 and amended in section 33 and 39 and article 4 and 9 of African Charter of Human and People’s Right”
The Press Freedom and Good Governance Awards 2024, featured categories of Touch Bearer of Press Freedom Award, Lifetime Achievement Awards, Defender of Press Freedom Award and Good Governance Awards, keynotes address was delivered by the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hycienth Alia, with the minister of information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi chaired the occasion.
