By Ebere Agozie
The Presidency and Media Foundation, an NGO, say they are partnering Leadway Assurance to support journalists facing health and financial challenges.
A statement issued by the president of the foundation, Mr Femi Oyewale, on Monday in Abuja said that Media Foundation was the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Social and Resourceful Editors (NASRE).
“Media work is hazardous. We take the highest form of risks.
” We are on the road even in the middle of the night, ensuring that governments and institutions’ actions are anchored in truth for the overall benefit of citizens and taxpayers.
“The risks we embrace daily take a toll on our health and when most of us are either deceased or down with ailments, nobody cares for us.
“These are part of the reasons we set up this foundation, to provide hope for colleagues in the face of hopelessness,” he said.
Oyewale said the support extended to the beneficiaries was small given the large number of journalists on the foundation’s list who had truly pathetic cases and needed support.
“We are not going to rest on our oars, we have a long list of journalists and families of late journalists who need help.
” Some of the cases are really pathetic and we are committed to this noble cause. This is just the first phase,” Oyewale said.
He said the move by NASRE Media Foundation, Leadway Assurance, and Ms Moremi Ojudu of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagements, South West, was to wipe away tears from the eyes of victims.
Oyewale said Leadway Assurance, the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagements and the foundation provided cash and grains to selected beneficiaries in the first phase.
He said that the four recipients in the first phase of the initiative included Mr Omodele Adigun, a former Deputy Business Editor at The Sun Newspapers and Mrs Esther Peter Thomas, wife of the late renowned entertainment editor and publicist at former Mo’Hits Records.
Others, Oyewale said, were Mrs Qudus Adewole, widow of the late Qudus Adewole, publisher of Ebony Media and the family of late Foluso Samuel who worked with Encomium Magazine.
He assured the recipients of continued support within the limit of available resources.
The NASRE president called on public as well as private institutions and individuals to partner with the organisation in assisting journalists facing challenges.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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(Edited by Christiana Fadare/Mufutau Ojo)
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