The Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, is preparing to launch the Nigerian Editors Trust Fund, which will address the professional and welfare needs of the country’s media houses and editors.
The announcement was made by the NGE’s President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, in a statement titled ‘Media Sustainability/Professionalism: NGE To Launch Trust Fund’ on Monday.
According to the Nigerian Guild of Editors, the move was in line with the resolution of the All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC), recently held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
It read: “The Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, plans to launch the Nigerian Editors Trust Fund, which is designed to address the professional/welfare needs of media houses and editors in Nigeria.
“At the ANEC in Akwa Ibom State, publishers, media executives and editors harped on the urgent need by the Guild to initiate a strategic move that will focus on the professional and welfare needs of media houses and editors in Nigeria, as part of several efforts to help them continue to discharge their constitutional and social responsibilities to society without necessarily compromising their ethical standards.
” The professional body of editors and media executives stated that the initiative is a response to the increasing professional and welfare challenges faced by the highest echelon of Nigerian journalists in performing their duties.
‘’The trust fund, which is expected to be launched in the first quarters of 2024, will also address the daunting economic challenges that media executives and editors are faced with during and after office.
“The fund will benefit the guild’s members in print, electronic and online media.
‘’The trust fund will be a collaborative effort among all the stakeholders in the media sector, including the public sector, aimed at addressing key challenges that affect professionals, who are the ultimate gatekeepers in their media organisations,” the Guild added.
The Guild recently established a committee headed by its Vice President (East), Mr. Sheddy Ozoene, to liaise with media stakeholders and coordinate the outfit’s launch in the first quarter of next year at its annual conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.