By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Journalists have been charged to uphold truth, professional ethics and accountability in their reportage, even as they embrace emerging technologies and the changing dynamics of the media industry.
The charge formed a major part of the speeches delivered and calls made by speakers at the grand finale of the 2026 NUJ Anambra State Press Week and 35th anniversary celebration, which held on Thursday in Awka, Anambra State capital, under the theme “NUJ Anambra, 35 Years On: Reporting with Truth, Responsibility and Service… But…”
The event, which also featured the 2026 NUJ Anambra Man of the Year Awards, brought together journalists, public officials, traditional rulers, political and community leaders, religious leaders, professionals and other stakeholders from different parts of the country.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Occasion, Comrade Churchill Chukwunonso Okonkwo, PhD, congratulated the Anambra State Council of the NUJ on its 35-year journey and commended the contributions of journalists to society. He reminded journalists that journalism is a profession and not merely an occupation, urging practitioners to remain committed to truth, accountability, objectivity and professionalism.
According to him, although technology would continue to change the tools available to journalists, it should not displace the fundamental values of the profession.
He therefore called for a media that would take advantage of digital and technological developments without sacrificing journalistic ethics, while urging journalists to investigate information before publishing rather than merely circulating what they receive.
Similarly speaking, the National President of the NUJ, Comrade Alhassan Yahya urged journalists to take advantage of digital advancement while remaining committed to responsible journalism and the core functions of the media.
He stressed the need for practitioners to operate within the relevant laws and professional ethics, describing journalism as a service to society and humanity.
Yahya commended the Anambra Council for sustaining the anniversary initiative and for recognising journalists, including veterans and other individuals who had distinguished themselves in various fields.
He also emphasised the need to make the security, welfare and safety of journalists a priority, even as he specifically made a case for health insurance package for journalists in Anambra State, while also calling on the state government to work out that and also pay greater attention to other issues affecting media practitioners in the state.
Declaring the event open on behalf of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, highlighted the infrastructural and multisectoral achievements of the administration.
Mefor also responded to the call for health insurance support for journalists, noting that the state already operates the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA). He, however, pledged to make a case for a special or appropriate package for journalists under the scheme.
The Commissioner described the media as indispensable to society but appealed to journalists to report responsibly, saying that was what the Soludo administration expected from practitioners. He also urged journalists not to be afraid in the discharge of their duties, assuring them that they could reach out to the government whenever they encounter problems.
In his keynote address, the keynote speaker and Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Amichi, Rt. Rev. Ephraim Ikeakor, said the 35th anniversary should provide the Anambra NUJ with an opportunity for sober reflection rather than being constrained to only a celebration of past achievements.
He congratulated the Council but challenged its members to examine where the union came from, where it currently stood and where it wanted to go in the future.
While tracing the historical origin of the concept of the media as the fourth estate of the realm to Edmund Burke in 1771, Bishop Ikeakor also reviewed the growth and role of the NUJ in Nigeria before examining the responsibilities of journalists in contemporary society.
He described the theme of the celebration as timely and built his address around three major principles: reporting with truth, reporting with responsibility and reporting with service in mind.
On reporting with truth, the Anglican prelate, who also cited John 8:32, warned media practitioners against sacrificing professional integrity for comfort, political patronage or financial inducement. He argued that not every fact presented to the public necessarily amounts to truth and urged journalists to develop the courage to establish the truth before publication.
Bishop Ikeakor identified junk or yellow journalism and investigative journalism as two broad approaches competing for space in today’s media environment, expressing concern that sensational and poorly investigated reports appeared to be gaining ground in the digital era. He therefore urged journalists to return to investigative journalism, describing the media as a watchdog of society and an essential instrument for sustaining democracy.
He also challenged journalists who could no longer tell the truth to reconsider their continued stay in the profession, warning that a practitioner who deliberately sacrifices truth for brown envelopes or personal comfort undermines the very foundation of journalism.
“Any Journalist who sacrifices truth on the altar of comfort and brown envelope is deadlier than a terrorist,” he declared, stressing that the greatest tool of a journalist is not the pen but his spine and the courage to stand by the truth.
On reporting with responsibility, the Bishop said journalists must ensure that their reports are accurate, fair and independent. He warned practitioners against rushing to publish simply because they wanted to be the first to break a story, stressing that journalists must understand that they are responsible for the consequences of every information they put into the public domain.
While describing responsibility as the backbone of journalism, the Bishop said both the report and the journalist behind it must be worthy of public trust; even as he urged journalists to approach the profession as a service to the people, rather than as an avenue for serving politicians.
According to him, journalists should identify the information needs of the communities they serve and work to meet those needs.
The cleric also expressed concern over the dependence of some media practitioners on government for their financial needs, arguing that excessive dependence could compromise the independence of the media.
He therefore advised journalists and media organisations to develop sustainable sources of income, warning that a situation where the government provides everything the media needs could make journalists submissive to those in power, he who pays the piper detects the tune.
While advocating government support for the media through appropriate press and media subsidies, however, stressed that such intervention should strengthen rather than undermine media independence. He maintained that at 35 years of the NUJ in Anambra, lack of funds and other challenges should no longer be accepted as excuses for poor professional performance.
For the financial sustainability of journalists and media organisations, Ikeakor recommended diversification of income sources, leveraging individual and institutional strengths, maintaining high ethical standards and engaging audiences effectively.
The Bishop further identified three major tools that journalists and the NUJ should strengthen: robust and accurate coverage, reliable documentation and resilient information sharing.
He particularly advocated the need for a functional and regularly updated NUJ Anambra website capable of serving as a dependable database and source of information and documentation critical issues of concerns.
While re-emphasizing his call for Nigerian journalists to see themselves primarily as servants of the masses rather than servants of politicians; Bishop Ikeakor further reiterated that the guiding motto of journalism should include holding the powerful accountable through watchdog and investigative reporting and giving voice to the voiceless.
The keynote address, which was greeted with loud and standing ovation from the participants, drew strong commendation from the former Director of Fides Newspaper, Rev. Fr. Martins Anusi, who described it as the best speech he had heard in the year and a roadmap for journalists and the media profession.
Also speaking, the Guest Speaker and former Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Mr. Victor Agusiobo, questioned the adequacy of the traditional five Ws and H as the sole measure of responsible journalism in the present media environment.
While noting that journalism remains indispensable to the development and progress of any society; Agusiobo, however, argued that a journalist could produce an accurate report and still fail in serving the public interest, hence the importance of asking the additional question, “So what?”
Earlier in his address of welcome, the Chairman of NUJ, Anambra State Council, Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, commended the National, Zonal, and State leaderships of the Union for their commitment to progress, while also lauding the speakers and the participants at the event for identifying with the Union and for their commitment to shaping and advancing the cause of the media profession.
Dr. Odogwu also congratulated the award recipients and explained that NUJ awards were not meant for everybody but were evidence-based recognitions for people who had distinguished themselves in their respective fields and sectors.
While commending those who have supported the Union already in different areas, he further highlighted the various needs of the NUJ Anambra State Council, while also calling for supports and re-emphasizing the need for improved welfare for the Union and the media practitioners in Anambra.
The event also featured the presentation of the Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna Award for Ethical Journalism, with a total cash prize of N500,000 disbursed to the winners.
Speaking on the award, the endower, NUJ Matriarch and first female professor of Mass Communication in sub-Saharan Africa, Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna, explained the motivation behind the prize and how she had progressively increased the reward from its initial N50,000 to N500,000 over the years.
She further reiterated her advocacy for ethical journalism while also urging practitioners to remain committed to truth, accuracy, professionalism and ethical journalism, noting that the credibility of the media depends largely on the integrity and quality of work produced by journalists.
Announcing the result on behalf of the Award Panelist, the Chairman, Sir Chuka Nnabuife, declared Ms. Ukpa Ewa as the overall winner, with a cash prize of N350,000. Ewa’s emergence makes her the first female winner of the award since its inception.
Mr. Uche Ndeke came second and got N100,000 prize; while Chukwubuka Oguocha emerged third and got N50,000.
Among the major highpoints of the event was the presentation of the 2026 NUJ Anambra Man of the Year Award to the Chairman and Founder of Ichie Akubudike Foundation, High Chief Martin Nwabueze (Ichie Akubudike Umudioka), for his accomplishments in business, construction and international oil and gas.
Nwabueze’s selection for the prestigious and highly-competitive honour also came against the backdrop of his activities in entrepreneurship, philanthropy, youth and women empowerment, community development, humanitarian interventions for the less privileged, sports, among other areas of human capital development.
A special 2026 NUJ Anambra Lifetime Man of the Year Award was presented to the Anambra State Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Prof. Charles Ofoegbu, for his contributions and distinguished profile over the past 35 years.
Other recipients of awards at the event included Hon. Obby Nwankwo (Okwuego), honoured for outstanding public service; Mr. Mmaduabuchi Sylvester Nwosu, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Bunvy Agency Ltd., who received the Outstanding Philanthropist of the Decade Award; and Chief Romanus Chika (Juju Ugbenu), honoured as Most Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year.
Chief Arinze Onwuzuruike (Aridon), Regent of the Umunze Traditional Council, received the Outstanding Humanitarian of the Year Award, while former international banker and investment consultant, Engr. Raphael Ezeike, Managing Director/CEO of Poly Concepts & Consultancy Ltd., was honoured as Outstanding Community Development Icon of the Year.
Furthermore, Rev. Fr. Innocent Affusim, Chief Executive Officer of Regina Caeli Specialist Hospital, Awka, received the Outstanding Medical Professional Service Award.
Other award recipients included Mrs. Aisha Edward Maduagwu, honoured as Outstanding Health Personality of the Decade; Amb. Benjamin Emoka, Humanitarian Service Award; Prince Henry Chigozie Nweke, Leadership Award; Prince Chinedu Ekwunife, Outstanding Politician Award; and Sir Chika Nwoba, Beacon of Digital Journalism Award.
On the journalism side, former two-term Chairman of the NUJ Anambra State Council, Comrade Victor Agusiobo, received the Long-Term Outstanding Professional/Leadership Service Award.
Comrade Chinyere Fessy-Okoye was honoured for Outstanding Professional Service, while Chukwudi Chukwuenyem also received a Professional Service Award; and Sylvia Tochukwu-Ngige got Professional Excellence Award.
Dr. Ifeanyi Obiefuna received the Outstanding Media Support Award, while Mrs. Monic Okechukwu, Mrs. Ngozi Obi-Chukwuma, Mrs. Chinyere-Fessy Okoye, Kasie Abone, Ms. Chigozie Chukwuleta, Comrade Mrs. Uche Kalu, Comrade Uche Osunkwo, Dr. Dennis Ekemezi, Sir Anthony Chinedu Nweke, Mazị Uzoma Nzeagwu and Mr. Nwekoyo Uchenna Nwanchor were all honoured with 2026 NUJ Anambra Long-term Professional Service Award.
The event, which had H.R.M. Igwe Christopher Emeka Nnaegbuna (Iga Ebenebe) as the Royal Father of the Day, also featured musical performances by Classy Queens.
In a vote of thanks, the Chairman of the 2026 NUJ Man of the Year/35th NUJ Coral Anniversary Planning Committee, Comrade Ekpone Francis Emeka, expressed appreciation to God, guests, awardees, political and religious leaders, traditional and community leaders, students, media partners, professional colleagues and friends of the media for their support.
He said their presence and goodwill contributed significantly to the success of the 2026 Press Week and 35th anniversary celebrations, while also expressing optimism for greater success in subsequent editions.
More photos from the event:
