By Chinedu Echianu
The Federal Capital Territory Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) plans to establish an endowment fund to secure the education and welfare of the three children of late former chairman, Patrick Osadebamwen.
The council said the initiative would provide longer-term support for the children, who lost their father after their mother died about three years ago.
FCT NUJ Chairperson Grace Ike announced the plan on Monday at a tribute event for Osadebamwen in Abuja.
Ike said the circumstances facing the children showed the need for journalists to strengthen support for colleagues and their families during difficult times.
She also urged journalists in the FCT to rebuild the solidarity needed to support members and their dependants.
The announcement came alongside renewed calls for the council to resolve divisions that followed its last leadership election.
A development communication expert Lemmy Ughebe urged members to reconcile and rebuild trust within the council.
The Immediate past FCT NUJ Chairman Emmanuel Ogbeche supported the call but said reconciliation must address the grievances and alleged injustices that caused the divisions.
Ogbeche said some members had subjected him to what he described as maligning and defamation, noting that such grievances needed to be addressed for reconciliation to succeed.
A representative of the Inspector-General of Police, Tunde Disu, expressed condolences to Osadebamwen’s family, the NUJ council and pledged continued cooperation between the police and the media.
Osadebamwen worked with The Union Newspaper, Core TV, The Nigerian Tribune, Kaftan TV and the online platform Interceptng.com during his journalism career.
