By Segun Adewale in Bauchi
Bauchi Field Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has expressed happiness over the cordial and professional relationship between it and working Journalists in Bauchi State, describing it as “healthy and beneficial to the well-being of women and children.”
The Chief of Field Office (CFO), Dr Nuzhat Rafique made the commendation when she led a condolence visit to the Secretariat of the Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), on Monday.
According to her, “Since I have come in to this country and the Bauchi Field Office, this is my first experience where we are working so closely with the Journalists.”
She added that, “And one of the best teams of Journalists I have seen in Bauchi. And I really thank you for that great team and the great mission you people have in Bauchi and in Nigeria, which is very, very highly needed.”
According to her, “So you people are the backbone of the society. You are the makers and the breakers. I always say, you can make or break the culture, the traditions, the society. You can break the bad practices and you can promote and you can make the culture positive for everyone, especially for children and women.”
“So you are not only our friends, you are part of us. You are part of UNICEF team. You are working for women and children with us. And you know now all these places are very familiar for me. One of you here, he is my brother. He is always with me everywhere when wherever I am encouraged by that,” she stressed.
Nuzhat Rafique then expressed the condolences of UNICEF over the recent deaths of two Journalists saying, “So that said, I am really, really very grieved by the incident that happened. Please accept wholeheartedly, UNICEF condolences for that precious life, precious Journalists lost in that incident.”
She prayed that, “And I pray for their best Darajat in Jannah and their souls may rest in peace forever. And may the families be comforted, God bless them with the courage to bear this losses. The loss is huge, not only for the Journalists, families, even for UNICEF. It’s a huge loss.”
She added that, “And for their families definitely. And I pray and I wish that all the blessings goes to their families for the sabr and the courage to bear this losses. And to you as well as the families to be the part of solidarity and stay as a family and be very, very strong team of Journalists in Bauchi. But the loss is irreparable and we can only pray for them.”
The UNICEF BFO CFO, added that, “So thank you very much for this opportunity to come and express our feelings on behalf of UNICEF Bauchi field office and UNICEF Nigeria.”
In his response, the Chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Umaru Saidu, thanked the UNICEF BFO, CFO, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, and her team for finding time to pay the condolence visit saying that it was a demonstration of good leadership and working together.
According to him, “We were there together, and we saw everything that happened leading to the crash. And now we thank God, we lost only two members because, I think that had the bus went on flame, this would have been all over. But Alhamdulillah, this is a design by Allah.”
He added, “And we really appreciate the support we have received and the steps taken, especially on the medical aspect of the Journalists by the State Governor as well as the NEDC. They have really supported us throughout the period. And Alhamdulillah, as I’m talking to you now, we don’t have any patient in the hospital. All of them, the remaining ones have been discharged, they are receiving treatment from home.”
Umar Saidu added, “So, I really appreciate your coming and as well as the partnership between UNICEF and Journalists in Bauchi State. And as you rightly pointed out, the Journalists in Bauchi State, they are just like part of the UNICEF, it is like their homes.”
According to him, “Because we have really enjoyed a lot of trainings from UNICEF. And I would like to ask for more training, especially because most of the problems we are facing is that most of the Journalists , they need special training in special aspects.”
He stressed that,”We have really enjoyed the presentations, especially by my brother here, Oluseyi Olosunde. Whenever he is making a presentation, you will see that he is not talking with the papers, but he is giving you the experience of what we are witnessing. So honestly, we have enjoyed working with UNICEF.”
He added that, “And the partnership between Journalists and UNICEF would not have been possible without the full support and experience handling that aspect by the Communication Officer of UNICEF, Opeyemi Olagunju. We really enjoyed it. I have tried on several times to maybe present a certificate to him, the Chief will be my witness, but he refused to give me that one opportunity. He said it’s not in the culture of UNICEF.”
“But honestly, we have enjoyed how he used to interact and sellect Journalists to participate in the programme. And I hope that we will continue with that good effort. So thank you very much,” he added.
The NUJ Chairman then reiterated that, “We are ready, whenever you need any support from Journalists, we are ready at any time to give you that support. Thank you so much.”
