By Joseph Edegbo –
The Chief Medical Director of National Eye Centre Kaduna Dr. Mahmoud Babanini Alhassan at the weekend bagged Nigeria Union of Journalists Award of Excellence for Humanitarian Services offered to media Practitioners and the poor of the poorest in the Society.
Presenting the award to him during the Council’s Award/lecture Day on the theme “Media Role in Political Campaigns, Elections and Crisis management”, the State Council of the NUJ noted that the National Eye Centre over the years has offered free medical check-up, treatment and provided world class reading eye glasses to Journalists for free . Cumulatively for the past three years, Eye Centre’s Free eye Care has reached 954 persons.
Some beneficiaries of the Eye Centre’s Free eye Care over the years, lauded the council for the recognition of the Eye Centre Kaduna for the award. Immediate past Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Kaduna Council Comrade Femi Adi and incumbent Treasurer, Comrade Nicholas Dekera who spoke on behalf of the media beneficiaries maintained that ” the eye is a critical part of the body for media professionals because the eye is sacrosanct in scripting and reporting issues in the Society adding that any one who cares for the eyes of the Journalists is directly investing in the professional output of the Media industry”
Speaking on behalf of members of the Kaduna metropolitan beneficiaries of the National Eye Centre’s Free medical care, a 71year old pensioneer, Sule Idoko based in Kakuri hails the Council for giving honour to whom honour is due.
According to him” medical care for the aged like us is one of the best gestures any organization can give, on behalf of all of us that benefited I congratulate Dr. Mahmoud Alhassan and urge him to continue in this service to Humanity and never relent”
Earlier in a keynote address, National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, High Chief Chris Isiguzo maintained that ‘In achieving what we deserve as Nigerians, the bulk of responsibilities shouldn’t be left to only the government but also to the citizens, especially journalists who have greater role to play by setting up agendas”.
“In working together and being united as Nigerians, the government required journalists in providing intelligence and information which would direct its policies for the wellbeing of the common man”, he emphasized