April 5, 2023

Mr. Ken Ugbechie, Publisher, Political Economist NG and author Nigeria Heroes and Sheroes: Diary of a journalist of courage says his book a global compendium of developments, initiatives and milestones in Nigeria will debut on Amazon in coming weeks, while calling on journalists to be professional and courageous.

He spoke with journalists on the sidelines of his book presentation and Political Economist Merit awards in Lagos. Excerpts:

Why I came up with the work

They say journalists are chroniclers of history, when we report or write. It will get to a point in life when you look back at what you’ve done. That is why I decided to put together some part of the body of works I’ve done over the years.

I carefully chose the ones I put out, because I wanted to put out a message to the world, that in Nigeria we’re not failures, we have men and women who have risen up, our heroes and sheroes who will continue to rise and prove to the world that we’re not a country of nonentities.

In the book I celebrated people who have done many great things, both in Nigeria and outside the country. The essence of the book is to celebrate development in our nation.

I feel a sense of fulfillment as a journalist, that what you’ve been doing you can curate them into a volume, that generations to come will have a reference material, because this is a historical material and in the next 50 years when you hold it you’ll have an idea of what happened in your country.

Beyond this printed material. We’re launching this in Amazon in coming weeks, it’s actually a global compendium of developments, initiatives and milestones in Nigeria.

Heroic journalism

Journalism is about being brave. If you’re not courageous you can’t really practice journalism. It’s not a profession for the weakling, that’s why I ask reporters if they have the heart or the passion, because in journalism it is publish and be damned.

A journalist is one who unearths what others are covering; you’re not anyone’s friend. So for you to be a good journalist you must be one who exemplifies that purity of journalism, sanctity of truth and of facts. These things you cannot compromise.

You must not be one who relies on social media hearsay to report and that’s why so many of us fail. You must have the patience to investigate and the responsibility to find out if it is the truth.