A Veteran Journalist, Pa Jola Ogunlusi, has urged retired journalists to always keep themselves busy so as to remain active as they aged.
Ogunlusi made the call during a special birthday lecture organised by the League of Veteran Journalists (LVJ) on Tuesday in Lagos.
The lecture, which had as its theme, “Pa Jola Ogunlusi: Life of a Journalist After Retirement”, was held in honour of Ogunlusi, who turned 90 years old recently in September.
Ogunlusi was the pioneer National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists
“As a journalist after retirement, do retire yourself; there is what you call retirement from work, but there is self retirement.
“Self retirement is when you retire and you are being paid, you continue to sleep in the house; you will be sick.
“However, if you do not retire yourself, you will gain a lot; so, as a retired journalist, do not retire yourself and get a lot of things you can do, you may be writing for other media, “ Ogunlusi said.
He urged upcoming journalists to thrive in the profession
According to him, the profession is not pleasurable, but has a reward.
“If you stay there and you make it a profession that you love, you will gain by it and know people; through knowing people you can go anywhere.
“The sky is the limit when you know people and they will help you, “ the veteran said.
Earlier, the guest lecturer, Mr Eric Teniola, said that journalists were like old soldiers, who did not really retire, but just fade away when the time came.
Teniola said that journalists remained active till the end if their health could sustain them.
“If journalists retire why should Chief Olusegun Osoba at 85, the twice elected Governor of Ogun State be reporting till today.
“If journalists retire why should veterans like Chief Tola Adeniyi, Sam Omatseye, Dan Agbese, Dele Sobowale, Lanre Idowu, Reuben Abati, and many others still be writing columns.
“The truth is that journalists have an active mind; they may not be rich, but they perform essential services to the world.
“An average journalist has a little knowledge of everything. Although his services may not be appreciated, yet he or she takes satisfaction in rendering services to the world: I am proud to be a journalist, “ he said.
Also, a former Governor of Ogun, Chief Olusegun Osoba, lauded Ogunlusi for making huge impacts on journalism for decades.
Osoba was the Chairman of the occasion.
“He helped to stabilise the profession in his time when Nigeria Union of Journalists was in factions.
“He contributed successfully to the point where the NUJ came to be one again,” he said.
The former governor urged younger journalists to emulate the older ones on dedication and focus.
Osoba said: “You have advantages of exposure, sources of information, but you lack the dedication we had.
“We were dedicated and believed in the profession; we worked harder than you,” Osoba told younger journalists.
In his remarks, the Chairman, LVJ, Mr Gboyega Amoboye, said, “We are prompted to pick the topic, ‘Life after Retirement for Journalists’.
“This comes out of concern for the welfare of members who are left forlorn and disillusioned after decades of meritorious service without benefits and paid peanuts where available.”
