CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK A lecture delivered under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, West Nigerian Branch, on 14th June, 1958. I would like to seize this opportunity to congratulate the members of the Western Region Branch of the Nigerian Union of Journalists for their wisdom in launching the Press Week and for the success which has attended their activities thus far. I also want to thank them for calling upon me to play some part in this memorable event.
The objects of the Nigerian Union of Journalists as contained in their Constitution are as follows: These objects appear to me to be highly commendable. In Nigeria, journalism is still a comparatively young and immature profession; and considering its importance to any enlightened community or society, as I will try to show later in the course of this lecture, any programme which is instituted for the purpose of advancing and fostering the interest of this profession deserves to be encouraged and supported by all. There is, of course, an element of trade unionism in the objects of the Union.
The Union is out not only to work for the advancement of journalism in Nigeria and to foster the spirit of professional consciousness among journalists, but also to defend the interests of their members with regard to salaries, conditions of employment and tenure of office. This object is equally commendable. It has been said that a hungry man is a angry person.
In the case of a journalist it is in the interest of the pub.
