Faith First as NUJ FCT Press Week 2025 Begins with Friday Prayers.
By Raymond Enoch
The 2025 Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council Press Week commenced today in Abuja in a solemn reflection and spiritual unity as journalists gathered on Friday for Jummat prayers at the NASFAT Mosque in Utako.
Setting the tone for a week focused on ethics, enlightenment, and professional introspection, the congregation listened attentively to the sermon delivered by the Acting Zonal Missionary Imam of NASFAT FCT, Imam Marouf Farouji. His message to the media community was both a moral compass and a call to action.
“First, let us thank Almighty Allah for the gift of life, for being human, and for being Muslim,” he began. Imam Farouji drew from the Holy Qur’an to underscore journalism’s sacred role in fostering transparency and ethical governance. “When people are poorly informed, it fosters corruption in governance and society. But awareness of consequences encourages ethical behavior,” he emphasized.
He acknowledged the indispensable role journalists play across various media platforms—print, audio, visual, and digital—highlighting their societal impact beyond religious lines.
“Journalism is here to stay,” he stated firmly. “Whether Muslim or Christian, the work journalists do contributes to enlightenment, civic responsibility, and moral consciousness. May Allah continue to guide and protect them.”
Representing the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Yahaya Ndambabo, the Vice Chairman, emphasized the symbolic importance of beginning the week-long activities with prayer.
“Nigeria is a religious country, and journalists are no exception,” Ndambabo said. “Starting our Press Week with Jummat prayers is a reflection of our values, our respect for spiritual grounding, and our desire for divine direction in the work we do.”
He announced that a Christian thanksgiving service is scheduled for Sunday, underscoring the Council’s inclusive approach and belief in unity through faith.
“As we dedicate this week to God,” Ndambabo added, “we are also spotlighting journalists’ welfare—particularly housing, security, and professional development in the FCT.”
Beyond the spiritual kickoff, the 2025 Press Week promises an ambitious program, including a public lecture expected to address critical media issues and the revival of press clubs in secondary schools—a move aimed at nurturing future generations of journalists.
Ndambabo concluded with a resonant appeal: “Let us lead by example. Journalists must rise above sensationalism and fake news. Our credibility is our currency.”
Friday’s Jummat prayer set a reverent and purposeful atmosphere for what promises to be a reflective and action-packed week in Nigeria’s capital. Journalists from across the FCT and neighboring states gathered not just in worship, but in recommitment to the profession’s enduring principles—truth, ethics, and service.
