Abuja, Nigeria – Saturday, September 27, 2025 –
The Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has teamed up with the National Blood Service Agency (NBSA) to launch a sensitization and training campaign designed to promote safe blood donation and strengthen media advocacy for healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
The event, held in Abuja, brought together journalists, government officials, and health experts in what participants described as a groundbreaking partnership showcasing the media’s central role in saving lives.
Chairman of the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Felix Ojo, said the campaign was anchored on service to humanity.
“Journalists are the fourth estate of the realm, watchdogs, and agenda-setters,” Ojo noted. “Despite enormous challenges ranging from inadequate resources to limited welfare support, we remain committed to informing and educating Nigerians, especially on critical health issues like safe blood donation.”
Director-General of the NBSA, Professor Saleh Yuguda, applauded the partnership with NUJ, describing the media as indispensable in ensuring blood safety and availability.
“Only about 40 percent of Nigeria’s blood demand is currently met,” Yuguda said. “With stronger media advocacy, we can raise awareness, mobilize voluntary donors, and guarantee safe blood for emergencies—be it maternal care, cancer treatment, or accident victims.”
In a technical presentation, Dr. Sani Abubakar Bako, a Director with the NBSA, stressed that Nigeria needs at least 2 million units of blood annually.
“Preventable deaths, especially maternal mortality caused by excessive bleeding, can be drastically reduced with increased voluntary donations and stronger healthcare infrastructure,” he explained.
The Head of Media and Communication at NBSA, Haruna Abdullahi, added that blood donation carries immeasurable social impact.
“Every pint of blood is a gift that not only saves lives but also sustains families,” Abdullahi said, urging journalists to normalize blood donation in their stories while advocating for progressive policies such as blood transfusion insurance.
Crowning the event, NUJ President, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, donated blood alongside other FCT journalists, calling it a symbolic gesture of leadership.
“I feel honored donating blood today—not knowing who will benefit, but assured that it will save a life,” Yahya said. “Our duty is to amplify awareness, track healthcare budget performance, and advocate improved allocations to vital services like the blood transfusion agency.”
The highlight of the program was the voluntary blood donation exercise by journalists, described as a powerful act of service to humanity and national wellbeing.
The campaign concluded with a renewed pledge to sustain the NUJ–NBSA partnership, ensuring continuous enlightenment on safe blood donation, healthcare, and broader social welfare issues.
