Mr Dele Aderibigbe (President, OMMAN)
For now, maritime journalists in Nigeria are ‘orphans’. So you can now ask the question, how do you enhance the welfare of an orphan or of orphans, whichever way you look at it? So you must think in terms of basics. When you talk of basics, you are thinking of housing/accommodation and food. Instead of calling it food, you call it welfare. You must talk in terms of what you can do to empower them to be able to acquire or secure a more comfortable way of living. The second one is welfare. How do you expect them to practice when they cannot properly feed? The industry is dry. The days when people can operate individually are fast running out. So journalists must learn to come together. So that is the first way I would look at it. We can enhance their welfare by encouraging them to first come together. Once they come together and they agree to come together, they will no longer be interested in de-marketing themselves. Stakeholders are no longer listening to weakened journalists. They are setting the agenda for journalists. Instead of journalists setting the agenda for the industry, the Industry operators are now setting agendas for journalists. He who plays the piper dictates the tune.
Mr Godfrey Bivbere (President, MARAN)
Seriously, if we want to do justice to this topic, the first thing that we must do is to form a united front. It is when we form a united front that we can now begin to maximize the opportunities that are available, and then we know how to channel it. It is not just about forming a united front, but we must have a good leadership that will be able to drive the process, and then get the opportunities that are available in the industry, to the benefit of the maritime media stakeholders.
But as it is, the various little units can only do the most they can. But the greater problem is that, as it is, a lot of people are not even in these small groups, and those people that are not in these groups are even worse-off. So the truth of the matter is that we must come together, bring everybody together, and then begin to take care of ourselves. That is the only way to go, and that is the best option, if we want to get the maximum benefits.
Dr. Ovie Edomi, (Chairman, FMMC)
The social responsibility of journalists all over the world should ordinarily attract a social welfare or insurance scheme for every practicing media practitioner. Unfortunately, in our clime, even the very top media houses hardly maintain a sustainable welfare scheme or insurance policy for journalists. For me, the best way to take care of practicing journalists especially those in Maritime journalism would be to first get them to belong to the mother body of all journalists- The NUJ via the Lagos State Council. Interestingly, the NUJ, Lagos State Council has created Chapels through which all practicing maritime journalists can come together to pursue issues of common interest, namely: welfare and training. So through the Chapel or the larger Lagos state council, each registered journalist can be under an insurance scheme, participate in Co-operative just like Teachers are doing to access funds to build their own houses and enjoy free or subsidized medical treatment where the need arises. Journalists need to look beyond the individual professional progress they are making and the laurel that come with it and remember that this job has its’ hazards; so those in private practice should belong to the professional body in charge of the journalism profession to handle some welfare issues that may arise while carrying out their social responsibilities to the society.
Mr Eugene Agha (Former President, SCAN)
To enhance the welfare of maritime journalists in Nigeria, several key areas must be addressed. These include capacity building through training and workshops, ensuring safety and security while reporting in high-risk maritime zones, and providing timely access to accurate information. Networking opportunities with maritime professionals and institutions should also be encouraged to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing. Additionally, welfare support such as health insurance, financial aid, and housing loans is essential. Recognizing excellence through maritime journalism awards and offering international fellowships can further motivate and equip journalists. Finally, strong partnerships with maritime organizations like NPA, NSC, NIMASA and NCS can offer additional support and resources. Collectively, these measures will significantly uplift the professional and personal well-being of maritime journalists in the country.
Mr Kelvin Kagbare (President, AMJON)
The welfare of Maritime journalists has not been taken care of at all. The government agencies, from the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, to all the agencies under the Ministry are not doing much. I think they can do more to encourage journalists to do more, especially in terms of capacity building. Capacity building is not just a matter of holding conferences and seminars, it is also a matter of exposure. Journalists need to be taken out on foreign trips so that they can be exposed to things outside. So that when they come back home, they can write informed reports. So when the CEOs travel and they don’t take journalists along, the journalists are just stranded within the Apapa shores. It shouldn’t be so. So the agencies need to do more to encourage Journalists to do more.
Mr Jerry Aguigbo (President, MAJAN)
That has always been a big deal. Up until now, we have always had the short end of the stick, because most times, the journalists are relegated to the barest ground, and when it comes to welfare, we are nowhere to be found. So I think the issue is beyond the journalists themselves, but I think a new body is coming up, that is, the Coalition of Maritime Journalists is taking care of that now. We are discussing on that level. We are trying to fine-tune and find a way to ensure that journalists are no longer trampled upon, and that their welfare is definitely taken care of. So we are working on that, and we hope that will suffice.
Mr Onyeka Udo (President, CONMMEP)
The issue we have in maritime is a peculiar case, because many of us are media entrepreneurs. In that case, what we need is an enabling environment. And that environment is not actually there. The economy is affecting advertisers. Unlike what is happening before, we had corporate organizations advertise in online platforms, newspapers, and in magazines, even in broadcasts. Now it’s not like that. The advertisement revenue has dropped significantly.
Speaking on how maritime Journalist welfare can be enhanced, we need to come together as a group. I know some journalists in some other sectors. They are able to come together, and they have this HMO insurance. Some organizations take care of it for them. But in maritime, it’s not like that. Except that a few associations are thinking about doing it for their members. But then as a group of maritime journalists, we need to come together. I like what is happening now in a situation where we want to belong to one umbrella so that we can fight our cause. As long as we are not united, we may not achieve much. But when we come together, it is possible that some agencies will look in our direction, and begin to do certain things for us.
Mr Funso Olojo (Publisher, Theeyewitnessnews)
The only way we can enhance the welfare of journalists is through an insurance scheme that will include Medicare. Also and more importantly, journalists should be well empowered in such a way that we won’t be going caps in hands to stakeholders whenever any of us is in distress. This is disheartening. More often than not, some of our departed colleagues, with due respect, had left in a most agonizing manner, leaving almost nothing for their families. This has to stop. In other saner climes, journalists are well-respected, well catered for and adequately remunerated. The earlier we start to take the issue of empowerment of journalists as a matter of priority, the better and healthier for us. This is why journalists should take their destinies in their own hands by organizing themselves and look beyond mere reporting, but how to enhance their well-being through various empowerment programmes which government and stakeholders can key into, if they see we are intentional and very serious about the issue.
