Members and executives of the Photojournalists Association of Nigeria, PJAN, at the weekend took a momentary break from the hustle of haunting for news photography to celebrate their annual symposium and end of year get-together. It also served as an opportunity to honour prominent Nigerians.
The symposium, which was held on Friday, December 16, 2022 at the Upper Suite hall of the Radio Lagos events center, had in attendance the traditional ruler of Oke-Ila Orangun in Osun State, Oba (Dr) Adedokun Abolarin accompanied by his Olori, as well as other dignitaries. The monarch, who is also the founder of Abolarin College in Oke-Ila, a school set up to fight poverty through education and strictly for indigent students came with many of his students.
Among the awardees are Oba Abolarin who was decorated as “PJAN Royal Father”, Honourable (Dr) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, as “PJAN Patroness”, while Mr. Dayo Adedayo, a prominent Nigerian documentary photographer was honoured as “PJAN Patron”. Other awardees include Dr. Qasim Olalere Akinreti and Deaconess Elizabeth Olufunke Fadugba, both former chairman/chairperson of the Lagos Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, respectively.
In his welcome address, the chairman of PJAN, Lagos State chapter, Otunba Kola Olasupo said the symposium was timely in view of the forthcoming general elections, stressing that photojournalists have major roles to play before, during and after the poll.
“I would like to appreciate you all for being here to participate in this very important gathering at a critical juncture of our Nation’s history. It is an election season here in Nigeria, and my hope is that we can remind ourselves during the course of the event of our important roles in preserving and nurturing a healthy democratic process.” He said.
“Photojournalism, by definition, is journalism that uses images to tell a news story. In periods of rapid change, the press performs a significant role as a social educator. We, through different stylistic format; such as photo-story, photo-series or photo-essay, play a key role in the preservation process of honest news dissemination, thereby deepening democracy in Nigeria”, Olasupo added.
“We can all agree that personal liberty is the most sacred possession of every man in a functioning democracy, and we can be proud as members of the free Press of our role in Nigeria’s democratic process. At the end of today’s event, my sincere wish is that we’re reminded of the limitless power of the lens of our cameras and the ability of our photographs to shape the important story of the moment, which is the coming election”, he emphasised.
The lecture of the symposium which was titled, “The Role of Photojournalists in a Sustainable Democracy”, was delivered by an erudite scholar, a prominent Nigerian photographer cum artist, Mr. Don Barber. He underscored the role of news photographer in factual news dissemination and in making democracy strive, going by the preponderance of fake news on the social media space. Photojournalists can use their cameras to record the authentic news as it breaks for circulation.
The PJAN symposium is an annual event aimed at bringing the practitioners together to review the activities of the association in the ongoing year, invite resource people to educate members on germane national issues as it affects members as well as to socialize and wind down.
LIST OF PJAN HONOURARIES FOR 2022:
HRH Oba (Dr) Adedokun Abolarin, Orangun of Oke-Ila (PJAN Royal Father)
Honourable (Dr) Abike Dabiri-Erewa (PJAN Patroness)
Mr. Dayo Adedayo (PJAN Patron)
Dr. Qasim Olalere Akinreti (Recognition Award)
Deaconess Elizabeth Olufunke Fadugba (Recognition Award)
Mr. Don Barber (Recognition Award)
Mr. Raphael Babatunde Awoniyi (Recognition Award)
Mr. Gbenga Fatile (Recognition Award)
Comrade Alfred Adebayo Odifa (Recognition Award)
