By Chioma James
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has continued its 2025 Press Week with a thanksgiving service at World Harvest Ministries in Jikwoyi, Abuja.
The gathering brought together journalists, families, friends and people of other faith united in their quest for spiritual strength and unity in the face of increasing challenges within the media space.
In his sermon, Archbishop Professor Leonard Bature Kawas in a message he titled “Seeking Deliverance from the Athens Troubles of Life”, urged the congregation to remain spiritually alert and courageous, drawing strength from Matthew 16:18–19.
The Archbishop noted that journalists, as children of God, possess divine authority to govern their territories and must not yield to fear or the devil’s schemes.
The Press Week Organising Committee Chairman, Comrade Evelyn Onyilo, highlighted the significance of the gathering while giving gratitude to God for the preservation the Union and its leadership.
Onyilo commended the FCT NUJ Chairperson, Comrade Grace Ike, for her resilience, doggedness, and her selfless service in the the last seven months in office.
Speaking at the Thanksgiving service, the Chairman of NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike emphasized the importance of press freedom, warning against growing attempts to silence journalists.
She reassured the Union’s commitment to a free press, “Press freedom is non-negotiable. Despite challenges like misinformation and harassment, journalists will continue to speak truth to power. We declare press freedom for Nigerian journalists, especially in the FCT”, she declared.
Note that the NUJ-FCT Press Week will feature a range of activities aimed at promoting unity among journalists, press freedom, and the vital role of the media in Nigeria’s democracy.