The Commissioner of Police in Kano State, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, on Sunday commissioned the first-ever table tennis board of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano State Council.
Bakori described the initiative as a practical demonstration of the cordial relationship between the police and the media.
The commissioning ceremony, held at the NUJ Press Centre in Kano, attracted journalists, senior security officials and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, the police commissioner commended members of the Correspondents’ Chapel for their professionalism and balanced reportage, noting that effective policing thrives on constructive engagement with the media.
“Policing cannot succeed without journalists. You are our partners and our image. Your reports are balanced, and whenever issues arise, we sit together and resolve them,” Bakori said.
He said informal engagements, including sporting and recreational activities, help to strengthen trust, improve communication and deepen mutual understanding between security agencies and journalists.
According to him, such cooperation has contributed significantly to sustaining relative peace and security in Kano State.
“Kano remains one of the safest states in the country. Crime incidents have continued to decline, and bandit activities around some border communities have been curtailed through cooperation with critical stakeholders, including the media,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Kano State Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ, Mr. Murtala Adewale, described the unveiling of the table tennis board as a historic milestone and the realisation of a long-cherished dream of the chapel.
Adewale said the initiative was conceived to promote the physical and mental well-being of journalists, noting that the profession is often characterised by stress, long working hours and demanding conditions.
“A healthy body supports a sharp mind. Sports and recreational activities help journalists remain focused, energetic and resilient in the course of their duties,” he said.
The chairman also called for the revival of the National NUJ Games, which he said had been suspended for more than a decade, stressing that the event provides a platform for journalists across the country to showcase their skills in various sporting activities.
He urged members of the chapel to make effective use of the facility and announced plans to organise a table tennis tournament in the near future.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the NUJ Kano State Council, Alhaji Suleiman Dederi, represented by the Vice Chairman, Mr. Mustapha Gambo, described the commissioning as a milestone for the Correspondents’ Chapel and the union.
Dederi encouraged other NUJ chapels to emulate the initiative, noting that programmes that promote the health, welfare and unity of journalists are vital to the profession.
A former national officer of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Mallam Malikawa Garu, also commended the initiative, saying it would foster unity, professionalism and healthy competition among journalists.
The event climaxed with a novelty table tennis match between Bakori and Adewale, which drew applause from journalists and invited guests.