December 19, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), a professional body of editors and media executives, is planning to launch the Nigerian Editors Trust Fund, designed to address the professional and welfare needs of media houses and editors in Nigeria.
A statement by the President of the NGE, Mr Eze Anaba and General Secretary, Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, said the initiative is a response to the increasing professional/welfare challenges being faced by
“the highest echelon of Nigerian journalists in performing their duties.”
Recall that the Guild, at its Annual Conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State recently, set up a committee headed by its Vice-President (East), Mr Sheddy Ozoene, to liaise with media stakeholders and coordinate the launching of the outfit in the first quarter of 2024.
The statement said the initiative is in line with the resolution of the Conference. “At the ANEC in Akwa Ibom State, publishers, media executives and editors harped on the urgent need by the Guild to initiate strategic move that will focus on the professional/welfare needs of media houses and editors in Nigeria, as part of several efforts to help them to continue to discharge their constitutional and social responsibility to the society without necessarily compromising their ethical standards.
‘’The trust fund, which is expected to be launched in the first quarters of 2024, will also address the daunting economic challenges that media executives and editors are faced with during and after office. The fund will benefit the Guild’s members in the print, electronic and online media.
‘’The trust fund will be a collaborative effort among all the stakeholders in the media sector, including the public sector – aimed at addressing key challenges that affect the professionals, who are the ultimate gatekeepers in their media organisations”, the statement said.
It also said that the Fund would create the much-desired impact in the journalism profession in the country as the editors and media executives would be exposed to empowerment programmes and innovations in the media industry, retraining and networking opportunities with colleagues from countries around the world.
The Guild said that the trust fund, which would be managed by trustees made up of eminent personalities from within and outside the media, would be a fallback cushion for media executives and editors in critical situations.
It would also be a source of addressing the welfare needs of the media executives and editors, as well as funding for key media projects that would impact Nigeria’s democracy, good governance and national development, the Guild added.
About the Author
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
