The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, has threatened to arrest and prosecute quacks that parade themselves as professional journalists in the state.
In a statement signed by the Chairman and Secretary,
Comrade Michael Ikeogwu and Comrade Patrick Ochei respectively, the Union said that “the Council is making frantic efforts to weed off quacks from the Union.”
Announcing the sale of forms to study in the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) in the state, the Union said this opportunity is a good method of getting individuals already practicing as journalists to be professionally qualified.
According to the statement, those wishing to professionalise as journalists are to pick up their forms at the NUJ Temporary Press Centre at No: 1, Oghara Street, DDPA Estate, Asaba and at the Correspondents’ Warri Chapel Secretariat, Warri, Delta State.
The statement added that “purchase of form is a prerequisite for admission into the Institute for 2020/2021 academic session.”
“This is an ample opportunity for those in practice but not professionalized yet, and those wishing to become journalists to grab the opportunity to upgrade themselves.
“Let it be noted that the Union will soon embark on arrest and prosecution of unqualified individuals who are parading themselves as journalists, thereby painting the profession in bad light before unsuspecting public.”
The IIJ is an internationally recognised journalism programme, and it is affiliated to the University of Maiduguri in Nigeria.
