Police–Media Partnership Deepens as CP Bakori Commissions NUJ Table Tennis Board

The Kano State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has commissioned the first-ever table tennis board of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano State Council, describing 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, drew journalists, senior security officials and other stakeholders, underscoring the significance of the event to both professions.

Speaking at the ceremony, CP Bakori commended members of the Correspondents’ Chapel for what he described as their professionalism and balanced reportage, noting that effective policing depends largely on constructive engagement with the media.

“Policing cannot succeed without journalists. You are our partners and our image. Your reports are always balanced, and whenever issues arise, we sit together and resolve them,” the Police Commissioner said.
He explained that 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 even bandit activities around some border communities have been curtailed through cooperation with critical stakeholders, including the media,” CP Bakori added.

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 realization of a long-cherished dream of the chapel.

He 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,” Adewale said.

The chairman also called for the revival of the National NUJ Games, which he noted had been dormant for over a decade, stressing that such events foster unity, fitness and professional bonding among journalists across the country. 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.
The Chairman of the NUJ Kano State Council, Alhaji Suleiman Dederi, represented by his Vice Chairman, Mr. Mustapha Gambo, described the commissioning as a milestone for the Correspondents’ Chapel and the union as a whole.

He said initiatives that promote the welfare, health and unity of journalists are crucial, given the demands of the profession, and encouraged other NUJ chapels to emulate the example.

Also speaking, a former national officer of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Mallam Malikawa Garu, and the Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Kano State Chapter, Hajiya Bahijja Kabara, commended the initiative, describing it as a step that would foster unity, professionalism and healthy competition among journalists.

The event climaxed with a novelty table tennis match between CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori and the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr. Murtala Adewale, an encounter that drew applause and excitement from journalists and invited guests, symbolising the growing bond between the police and the media in Kano State.