By Uduak Akai
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) AKwa Ibom State Council, has pledged its readiness to partner Federal College of Education (FCE), Ididep to greater heights in the comity of colleges.
The chairman, NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Nsibiet John, made the pledge while he led members of the State Working Committee (SWC) on a courtesy visit to the college in didep, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, Wednesday.
John, appreciated God for making the visit a reality, the provost and his management team for recognising the media as key players in the development of the society and institutions.
He commended the provost for the positive strides recorded within his three months in office as the second Provost of the college, averring that starting a project is usually challenging but encouraged him to continue to do more in order to leave lasting legacies in the college.
The NUJ boss who described the provost as a man of vision, a man with capacity to lead and serve, saying that the visit was to strike an unending partnership with the college for mutual benefits, while thanking him for the cordial relationship extended to NUJ members in the college employ.
Comrade John noted that as journalists, they are saddled with the responsibility to propagate and project the gospel of the college in good light and as well draw the attention of Federal Ministry of Education and multinational organisations to attract more development to the institution.
He appealed to the provost to invest in the media and publicity unit of the college as image makers for optimal outcome even as he will carry Journalists along interms of employment and other larggess available in the college.
In his remarks, the college provost, Dr. Wilson Udofia, thanked the leadership of NUJ for the visit, acknowledging that without the media the college will not succeed in being a center of excellence.
Udofia explained that within the period his predicessors have tried their best but a lot still need to be done to give the college a facelift it deserves, he disclosed that he is barely three months in office hence seeking audience with the media for partnership to repackage their challenges to the right channels for prompt action.
He explained that one of the greatest challenges facing the college is that of encroachment of the community into the college land and called on relevant authorities to intervene.
He called on Ididep community to maintain relative peace to enable the college succeed as no development can thrive in an atmosphere of rancour. He commended Senator Ita Enang for facilitating the establishment of the college in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area by President Tinubu and his ministers among other newly established educational institutions in the country.i
The provost assured that the college under his leadership will set a standard that Nigeria and Akwa Ibom will be proud of, stressing that the college is blessed with vibrant lecturerer and non-teaching staff.
He called on other organisations to emulate NUJ to make the college an enviable citadel of learning to the benefit of Nigeria and Akwa Ibom citizens.
In his closing remarks, the college registrar and secretary of council, Mr. Daniel Awowor, thanked NUJ leadership ably led by Nsibiet John for the visit and the assurance to partner the college to greater heights.
The registrar said he was optimistic that with the visit the college will be adequately heard and seen beyond the state.
Present during the visit were the college management team and staff of the Media and Publicity unit.