MARITIME JOURNALISTS COLLAPSE FRONTIERS TO FORGE A COMMON FRONT
Mcanthony Onuoha
Maritime media practitioners have collapsed the borderlines that separated them into different associations to forge a common front.
The Network of Nigerian Maritime Journalists, (NNMJ) is now known as an umbrella body of all Maritime Journalists, comprising all Maritime Journalists beat Associations as the body has officially announced its presence to all journalists, government Agencies and critical stakeholders.
A press release signed by the Chairman, Elder Dele Aderibigbe and the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Jerry Aguigbo, stated that the Coalition has become very necessary to further foster unity among journalists covering the Maritime Industry, while ensuring cohesion with a stronger umbrella body to better the lot of all journalists.
Membership of the NNMJ is drawn from all the existing maritime journalists beat Associations: The League of Maritime Editors (LEAGUE), Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), The Maritime Journalists’ Association of Nigeria (MAJAN), Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria( SCAN), Online Media Association of Nigeria (OMAN), and Congress of Nigerian Maritime Media Practitioners (CONMMEP), as well as all other maritime journalists not affiliated with any Association.
According to the press statement, “The Coalition is seeking the support of all journalists, especially all government Agencies, parastatals and all relevant maritime stakeholders to make this process a success.”
“In due course, we shall announce our programmes and hopefully expect all maritime journalists to key into them for a seamless coverage of the industry, while we make efforts to ensure that maritime journalists are no longer less regarded, and treated like orphans they seem to have become in recent times.”
“We sincerely thank all maritime journalists for their loyalty and support. We also wish to extend our kind regards to everyone who has supported us this far”, the statement read.
