It was a joyful moment for the entire staff of The Newswriter Newspaper when Mr. Opaka Dokubo the chairman of the Rivers State chapter of Nigeria Union of journalists (NUJ) led members of his executive to inaugurate The Newswriter Chapel as well as to swear in the pioneer executive officers of the chapel.
It would be recalled that towards the end of last year 2011, the Opaka Dokubo led executive team had visited The Newswriter Newspaper chapel for assessment and undoubtedly confirmed that the chapel was due for inauguration after seeing things for themselves, thus,its inauguration on January 20, 2012, at The Newswriter Chapel office, 23 Hospital Road, Port Harcourt City LGA..
Inaugurating the chapel, Mr. Dokubo who disclosed that The Newswriter Newspaper Chapel was the first to be inaugurated since his assumption of office three years ago, emphasized that its inauguration was based on merit and consistency at the newsstands.
According to him, “It is not that other people from other media houses were not approaching me for inauguration. We took a decision on the issue. For one to qualify, we must see things for ourselves, we need to see the soul of the newspaper and not only the leadership but to consider how it will survive”.
The Rivers state NUJ boss who debunked insinuations that the state executive of NUJ intended to inaugurate chapels due to the forth coming NUJ election in the state, stated that the inauguration of The Newswriter chapel was based on its seriousness in the business, adding that the chapel stood as their reference point.
He said if it were for other reasons, then he would have inaugurated all the media houses pleading for a chapel
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
