By Edem Archibong, in Calabar
The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya has declared the Union’s decision to partner with the former Senator Princess Florence Ita-Giwa of Cross River State to ensure the establishment of a Media Center Foundation that will serve as a Memorial for Tourists in remembrance of her late Mother, Late MRS. Beatrice Bassey Ita.
The centre is to be used as a vibrant research hub, mentorship and development Foundation Center in honour of her late Mother, Late MRS Beatrice Bassey Ita, a veteran journalist,broadcaster and media icon.
The vision is a deliberate design to immortalize late Mrs. Ita’s invaluable contributions to Investigative Journalism, broadcasting and public service to be of immense value to the young media professionals, students and researchers.
Comrade Yahaya commended the initiative of the Annual Beatrice Bassey Ita Investigation Journalist Award ceremony which will stand as a beacon of knowledge, inspiration and for cultural heritage of the media professionals as well as provide more opportunities to the next generation of storytellers/communicators.
Also speaking at the 5 th edition of Late MRS, Beatrice Bassey Ita Investigation Journalist Award ceremony is the National Chairman of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalist, NAWOJ , Aisha Ibrahim expressed gratitude for the initiative and urged reporters especially women journalist to utilize the opportunity to remove fear and be bold with focus on Investigative reporting for democracy to thrive.
She also explained that, “in a world of misinformation and sensationalism, Investigative journalists must dig deep, question the status-quo, exposes the truth. Therefore, we must mentor the next generation of Journalist to pursue impactful stories”.
Speaking earlier, Senator Princess Florence Ita-Giwa why she had decided to sustain the award which was abandoned for the past eleven years ago, is to ensure that her late mother’s legacy is alive again through the award because the initiative was more than a memorial gesture.
The Senator Princess Florence Giwa recalled her childhood days of stubbornness where she refused to hid to her late mother’s advise on her to study journalism but instead preferred to study nursing which is “a noble profession”, questioning rytherically if reincarnation is really, then, she will like to become a nurse again.
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Florence Banku Obi who is the Chairman of the Best Investigative Journalists award 2025 commended the NUJ for ensuring that the spirit of Beatrice Bassey Ita best Investigative Journalists award is sustain and urge the body to continue to uphold their integrity and professional ethics at all times.
She further explained that the tenet of Investigative Journalism is not just about exposing wrongdoing alone, but it is also about the deliberate efforts to shaping the society and giving voice to the voiceless people in the society.
She used the opportunity to express her appreciation to NUJ , Cross River State Council for the cordial relationship she had enjoy during her tenure as the University of Calabar Vice Chancellor while encouraging the Journalist to continue to remain fearless, be ethical and committed to the truthful because the “future of democracy depends on a free and vibrant press”.
Beatrice Ita Giwa’s Award.
