BY LAW IBITOYE
The Founder of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Ado-Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola has enjoined Ekiti journalists to be fearless, accurate and balance in their reportage. Adding that journalists are duty bound to expose social ills in the society for social change.
Afe Babalola made the remarks when the leadership of the Nigeria Union of journalists, NUJ, Ekiti State Council, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Ado-Ekiti.
The legal luminary charged journalists to be prepared to step on toes based on factual reportage. He described journalists as the most powerful weapon to sensitise, advise and make suggestions to government and the masses. Comparing journalism in the past and now, Afe Babalola said journalists of nowadays are timid and afraid to do their job with utmost diligence.
Speaking on the request of NUJ, Aare Afe Babalola promised to build a befitting press centre for the union.
Considering the deplorable situation of transport system, hunger and poor condition of the masses ,Afe urged government to prioritize well-being of the masses.
In his word, “don’t lie when you publish. Tell the truth which in Law is a justification for libel”, Afe stated, saying that journalists are to change the world just as he established Afe Babalola University to change the world for better.
Earlier, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists in Ekiti State, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, who described ABUAD as a global brand, congratulated Aare Afe Babalola on the recent ranking of the Institution as outstanding university in the world which he attributed to selflessness, diligence and discipline on the part of the founder.
Babatuyi, said ABUAD has always been in the news for positive reasons unlike some other universities that usually organised press conference to dispel rumour, or one allegation or the other.
The Chairman therefore requested Babalola to have a befitting press centre built in his name and that NUJ is ready to partner ABUAD to ensure that the founder’s dream for the university comes true which consented to.
Appreciating Aare Afe Babalola on behalf of NUJ, the General Manager of Progress FM, Ado-Ekiti, Dr. (Mrs) Adebola Agbaje, thanked the founder for the warm reception given to the members of the pen profession and the express approval of building a befitting press centre granted NUJ Ekiti. She described Afe Babalola as a father of all journalists.