Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has described late Sen. Anyim Ude as a disciplined statesman who lived his life for the unity and progress of Nigeria.
Mbah said this on Thursday at the memorial lecture of Sen. Anyim Ude, organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Enugu.
The governor said that the late Journalist and Broadcaster was a revered personality during his life time.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Mbah urged Journalists in the state to toe the footsteps of the late Ude by practicing their profession with truth.
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi, Mrs Patricia Obima, commended the organisers (NUJ) and family of late Ude for honoring their own.
She promised the family of Ude that the government of Ebonyi where he hailed from will not abandon them.
The guest lecturer, Mr Olumide Akpata, former Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), delivered a lecture on the topic: “Freedom of the press, fake news and the rule of law.”
Akpata said there was the need for Journalists in the country to live up to their responsibilities, especially in the area of investigative Journalism.
He said that the socio- economic crisis in the country today demanded the intervention of Journalists, Lawyers and the organised Labour.
The former NBA boss said there was the need for closer relationship between Journalists and lawyers as vanguards of the society.
“There is a need for a healthy relationship between Lawyers and Journalists for Nigeria to move forward,” he said.
He decried the lack of investigative Journalism and the take over of media space by untrained citizen journalists who mastermind “fake news.”
The event was attended by many important dignitaries including former Minister of information, Chief Nnia Nwido; Prof. Elochukwu Amuchiazu, former MAMSER DG.
Responding, the eldest son of late Anyim Ude, Mr Nnana Ude, thanked the organiser and Journalists in Enugu State for honouring his late father.
He said that in appreciation, the family has instituted a N1 million award for the best investigative journalist in the state annually.
