By Asuquo Cletus
In a move to honour its past leaders and preserve their legacy, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Cross River State Council has unveiled its Hall of Fame, an initiative aimed at celebrating distinguished journalists who have made significant contributions to the profession and the union’s growth.
The unveiling ceremony, held on Wednesday at the NUJ Secretariat in Calabar, was a momentous occasion graced by top government officials, media professionals, and other stakeholders. The event underscored the union’s commitment to recognising excellence and inspiring the next generation of journalists.
In her address, the Chairman of the NUJ Cross River State Council, Comrade Archibong Bassey, lauded the invaluable contributions of past leaders, describing the Hall of Fame as a symbol of the union’s dedication to preserving their legacies. She revealed that the idea was conceived as part of her birthday reflections, which culminated in a solemn assembly to express gratitude for 2024 and seek divine guidance for 2025.
“Two weeks ago, as I pondered on what to do for my birthday, I decided to dedicate the day to thanking God for an amazing 2024 and committing the year 2025 into His mighty hands. That was why we held the solemn assembly in the morning. It was also an opportunity to celebrate our past leaders and immortalise their contributions, an idea I shared with my exco, and they embraced wholeheartedly,” she stated.
She took a moment to acknowledge and appreciate her executive team, describing them as a formidable force behind the success of the council.
Expressing her gratitude to Engineer Ben Akak and his wife for their unwavering support and encouragement, Comrade Bassey recounted their words of motivation upon her assumption of office. “When I took up this responsibility, Engineer Ben Akak said to me, ‘Archie, you cannot fail; Archie, you must not fail.’ Those words became my guiding principle, and I went back home, telling God, ‘I cannot fail; I must not fail.’ Nine months down the line, it has been a journey from glory to glory.”
She further reiterated her vision for a more befitting Press Centre, expressing confidence that, with collective efforts, the dream would one day become a reality. “My deepest desire is to see this place transform into a world-class Press Centre. I trust that, by God’s grace, we will achieve this goal.”
A major highlight of the event was the unveiling of the Angel Hall of Fame, showcasing the names and portraits of past NUJ leaders and accomplished journalists in Cross River State. The occasion also featured the recognition of former leaders who were celebrated for their dedication and service to the union.
The event concluded with a renewed call for excellence in journalism, as the Hall of Fame now stands as a beacon of inspiration for present and future media practitioners.
