By Abubakar Ahmed
Gusau – A Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zamfara state Council merit award recipient, Dr. Dauda Dare has promised to construct an ultra modern secretariat for the union in the state.
Dr. Dare made this known on Tuesday in Gusau, shortly after he received a merit award for his philantropic support in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the union had selected eight prominent personalities in the state, including the state governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari for various categories of the award.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the union, Mr Mainasara Muhammad said that the award was conceived by the union in order to encourage the well to do to assist those in need as a way of reducing poverty.
“Apart from reducing poverty in our communities, this measure will also address the issue of insecurity threatening the state,” he noted.
The chairman also explained that the union was currently waiting for the state government to fix the date when Gov. Yari would receive his award.
In his response, Dr. Dare expressed gratitude to the union for finding him worthy of the award and promised to do more.
“We have two major challenges in northern states, lack of financial investment even in the banking sector and non-existence of media houses and good practitioners.
“Until this is done, nobody will know or care about us.
“It is in order to address this situation that I want to announce my promise to construct an ultra modern secretariat fit with state of the art facility for the promotion of journalism in the state,” he said.
NAN reports that during the event, the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello, the state Commissioner of Information, Alhaji Sanda Kwatarkwashi and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Abdullahi Shinkafi, expressed their goodwill.
(NAN)