The Ondo State coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Mrs. Grace Akpabio, has expressed worry over the vulnerability of media personnel during the coronavirus pandemic that has so far defied solution.
The state coordinator expressed her worry during the donation of hand sanitisers to some media organisations in the state.
Speaking at the Ondo State Correspondents Chapel, Mrs. Akpabio, said the nature of media men and women to adequately inform and sensitise the general public on virtually all breaking news and burning issues exposed them to the novel virus.
Said Akpabio: “You will agree with me that in a bid to source for breaking news on all issues especially on this pandemic that has put the whole world on its toes, you are daily exposing yourselves to the dangers associated with the COVID -19.
“Our minds are with you always as you wage unrelenting war against Coronavirus with the updates that are constantly making us to be adequately informed about latest happenings around the world.”
The NYSC boss asserted that due to the challenging and dangerous environment within which the media operated, they needed to go extra mile before they could have access to genuine and credible information.
“It is most unfortunate that in the times of war or crisis like what we have at hand, we neglect or do l say we overlook praying for journalist and the media as practitioners as a whole. During wars, we pray for soldiers and international donor agencies and during pandemics, we remember doctors and health workers but never have it in mind to seek God’s protection for our newshounds.”
She said that NYSC as a responsible organisation would continue to do everything humanly possible in line with its meagre resources to assist those who are critical to the survival of the scheme.
Receiving the donation on behalf of all the correspondents of mass media of communication in the state, the Chairperson of the Chapel, Mrs. Bola Ojuola, said that the gesture of the NYSC in Ondo State was a testimony that the scheme valued human life.
Mrs. Ojuola, while appreciating this unexpected donation from Ondo State NYSC management said that for the scheme to remember them at the challenging period will encourage them to consider NYSC as a priority in the state.
She said that NYSC as a youth programme had done much for this country and should continue to be supported by dependable and reliable stakeholders like the media.
At the Nigerian Television Authority, Akure, the General Manager, Mr. Segun Ojelade, expressed the appreciation of the station to NYSC for counting them worthy of the hands of hospitality.
Mr. Ojelade who was represented by a management staff of the ‘Station on top’ promised to deploy the sanitisers to the intended recipients.
While receiving their share of the donation, the General Manager, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Akure, Mr. Abiodun, said that the donation would encourage them to strengthen the relationship between the two agencies of the Federal Government.
The helmsman at the Positive FM 102.5 said he was of the opinion that if other organisations in the medical and associated services could support the government at all levels as NYSC was doing with deployment of corps medical personnel and other healthcare providers, then the war against COVID -19 would not be too challenging to contain.
The General Manager promised to continue to create avenues and enabling environment for the scheme in the state to inform and sensitise the general public on how best to contain the spread of the novel COVID-19.
