Bello Tasks Journalists on Health Checks, Insurance
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Barr. Hassan Bello Wednesday advised journalists for regular health checks to avert any future or sudden health crisis.
Bello who spoke on the occasion of the colloquium in honour of late Chief Ubon Akpan held in Apapa said a structured health check and insurance scheme for journalists have become very imperative for the well being of practitioners.
According to him, an early or regular checks help in tackling dangerous health issues by anyone.
He said, “If you don’t check your health you would not know and that is the reason we advocating for all these benefits for journalists.
“Aside that of health insurance we also want to suggest that issues of insurance should be looked into as well” .
Bello who described Ubon as an exceptional journalists called on journalists to emulate his good qualities.
During the event, medical experts drawn from the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) advised journalists on the need for regular exercise.
Regular exercise according to the experts was very important to remain healthy.
Maritime journalists who attended the colloquium described late Ubon as a core professional who loved journalism practice.
The former Editor of Sun Newspapers, Mr Emeka Okoroanyanwu, described Ubon as a fearless journalist who thrived on truth.
He said the maritime industry will miss Ubon for his exceptional qualities as a practitioner.
The late maritime Journalist who died about a month ago practised for 33 years working in major national newspapers before venturing into his media practice .
He was former President of Maritime Reports Assocition of Nigeria (MARAN) and also a founding member of League of Maritime Editors and Publishers.
In 1999 he had teamed up Asu Beks, Emeka Okoroanyanwu, Alban Opara and Pius Mordi – to co-found Maritime Publications Limited which pioneered the publication of specialised journal through Maritime Quarterly magazine.
He served his community and worked assiduously for the uplifting of his people as one-time president of the Ibiono Ibom Welfare and Development Association (IWADA) in Lagos among various capacities, according to his friend Asu Beks.
Beks who is the Chairman Committee of Friends said in a statement “ Ubon also served in the executive council of the Akwa Ibom State Community (AKISCOM), Lagos branch.
“His early education began at the famous Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar from where he proceeded to The Polytechnic, Calabar where he obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication. He went to University of Ibadan where he completed a program in Masters in Communication Arts (MCA).
“Witty, boisterous and outspoken, Ubon as he was called by his friends and colleagues longed for a better Nigeria welcoming to entrepreneurship, a factor that made him shun paid employment to actualise his dream of being a genuine stakeholder in Nigeria’s shipping industry.
He is survived by his wife Esther, children and siblings”.
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