By joshua 
Platinum Anniversary: Convener, S4JEI, Gbemiga Bamidele, Ph.D Congratulates NUJ.
Gbemiga Bamidele, Ph.D, Convener, Society for Journalism Enhancement Initiatives (S4JEI), has sent a message of congratulations to the President, Nigeria Union of Journalists on the platinum celebration of the Union.
In a letter addressed to Mallam Alhassan Yahya, President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ),
NUJ National Secretariat,
Abuja, titled:
CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO NUJ @ 70, the letter read thus:
“It is with pleasure and delight that I send this message to our great Union on attaining
this amazing milestone.
My pleasure derives from my knowledge of the circumstances of the birth of the Union
on March 15, 1955 and its survival for seventy years, celebrating a Platinum Jubilee.
I am impressed that Nigerian journalists have made their marks worldwide, respected
and trusted, and at home remain actively engaged in the quest for excellence in the
service of our country and humanity. In-fact, the Nigerian Press has been in the
vanguard of the struggle for human dignity, human rights and social welfare.
The Press was the principal weapon in the fight against British colonialism and native
tyranny in the civilian and military governments that succeeded foreign rule.
I would like to give credit to the monumental legacy of great journalists like the first
President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mobolaji Odunewu and the first
General Secretary Olu Oyesanya, Herbert Macaulay, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe and Chief
Obafemi Awolowo, all of blessed memories, to mention but few. Sam Amuka is still with us.
It is not possible to exhaust this list of honour, suffice it to say that the NUJ and
indeed all Nigerian journalists have every reason to be proud of our heritage.
Mr President, you will accept my warm congratulations on this auspicious occasion of
the Platinum Jubilee of our great Union and also accept my regards and best wishes at
all times as you thrive to take the Union to an enviable level, please”.