. . . Honours Abuchi Onwumelu Fides, NUJ Boss, Others
By Pascal Chibueze
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Command, C.C. Andrew A. Kumapayi last, Tuesday at Golden Tulip Hotel, Agulu, in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, hosted select media practitioners in the state.
The Sector Commander during the get-together with the media practitioners, presented an award of recognition to Comrade Abuchi Onwumelu of Fides for his contribution towards the growth and development of FRSC in Anambra State and beyond, through his objective and balanced reportage.
Speaking on why he called for the meeting the FRSC Boss said he thought it wise to interface with media practitioners in Anambra State to enable him to know them better, noting that the command decided to use the medium to honour and appreciate dutiful media practitioners who, he said, had contributed immensely in projecting the activities of the command.
He applauded the media practitioners for the role they had played and continued to play in ensuring that road crashes were reduced to the barest minimum, urging them to maintain the tempo.
He announced that the command had concluded plans to inaugurate members of the press as Special Marshals, noting that very soon, they would be called for an interview before being empowered to assist in bringing sanity to roads in the state.
‘We want to partner journalists here in Anambra State. We are going to involved them fully in safety management. The idea is to get them close and use their information dissemination acumen to ensure safety on our roads. I cannot wait to inaugurate them. Anambra State has the best crop of Journalists in Nigeria,’ Kumapayi stated.
In a vote of thanks, the State chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, Comrade Emma Ifesinachi, assured the Sector Commander of the readiness of Journalists in the state to partner the command in reducing crashes on the highways, especially on information dissemination and enlightenment.
Ifesinachi thanked Mr. Kumapayi for the gesture and for also for appreciating some media practitioners who had carried out their assignments without fear or favour.
Awards of recognition were presented to the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, Comrade Emma Ifesinachi; the Vice Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Francis Ekpone; the Secretary of SWAN, Comrade Patrick Anaso; and Comrade Abuchi Onwumelu of Fides Newspaper (Treasurer, NUJ, Anambra State Council).
Other awardees included, the Vice President (Southeast) of Radio Television Theatre and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU), Prince Comrade Emeka Kalu (Magic Fingers); Comrade Chinedu Madu of Purity FM, Awka and Comrade Ijeoma Okafor Uche of the Anambra Broadcasting Service.
In an interview, the Editor-in-Chief of Fides Newspaper, Hon Jude Atupulazi, described Abuchi Onwumelu Fides as a hardworking, tenacious, dedicated, and committed journalist.
His words, ‘There’s no obstacle in his dictionary. He enters where angels fear to even peep. He’s got a generous spirit, rejoices with everyone, both friend and foe.
‘There’s nothing like envy in his life. He’s respectful, humble and unassuming. His qualities are not lost on close watchers. Any wonder that he’s been knighted by the Church at an age when his peers are still crawling? Any wonder that Akpokuedike found him worthy to be his executive assistant?
‘Any wonder that Bishop Ezeokafor quickly made him his first ever chief press secretary? I’m talking about Comrade Abuchi Onwumelu, KSJI, the tireless ambassador of journalism practice, the treasurer of Anambra State Council of NUJ, the go-getter of Fides Newspaper and my beloved mentee,’ Atupulazi said.
He expressed gladness that since he took Onwumelu along in 2011 to work for Fides, he had not had cause to regret the action, even as he urged Onwumelu to continue soaring.
