By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
The Commissioner for Information, Kogi State, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, has charged journalists across Nigeria, West Africa, to begin to set agenda for politicians if the country must win in the coming 2023 general elections.
From left, Rita Enemuru, receiving the Award of Excellence on behalf of Nigerian Tribune Chief Correspondent, Delta State, Ebenezer Adurokiya from the Senior Special Adviser to the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Dcn Kingsley Otuaro, Arex Akemotubo at the event.
He also charged journalists in the Niger Delta to stop portraying the region as crises-ridden, but rather begin to tell the story of the region in positive light.
The calls were made on Thursday January 6, 2022 during the 2021 Niger Delta Annual Workshop/Media Award Night hosted by a leading media outfit in the Niger Delta, Gbaramatu Voice Newspaper.
The event of over 50 journalists in attendance, which started with the workshop in the morning, ended with the dinner award night at Bon Delta Hotel along NPA Expressway in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State.
Mr Fanwo, while acknowledging the role of the media ahead of the 2023 general elections, called on journalists to stop portraying the Niger Delta as encumbered with crises, militancy, illegal oil bunkery and other criminality.
According to him, journalists should endeavour to tell the story of the region in the light of peace and business-flourishing region so as to attract investors in order to improve the livelihood of the people and also enhance economic growth.
“The story I used to hear of the Niger Delta is not the reality on ground. Niger Delta is largely very very peaceful and Delta is peaceful.
“The media should also thrive the crooked process as we approach 2023. The media must ensure to tell a story about the Niger Delta in a positive light.
“Let it not be about the crisis alone; let it not be about bunkery, hostility, militancy alone but about the business opportunities and peace that abound in the Niger Delta.
“When Nigerians are aware of this, then they would be able to grow more businesses here and improve the livelihood, and Niger Delta will be better for all,” he enthused.
He urged Nigerians to look beyond political affiliations, but rather focus on personality in selecting their leaders in the coming polls in order to foster unity and development across the country.
“At the end, it doesn’t matter which party wins; what matters is that Nigeria must win; that is the most important thing.
“For Nigeria to win, media practitioners have a big role to play in setting the agenda. What do we want to achieve as a nation, who are the people that fit into that criteria for us to be able to achieve this?
“Are we safe as a nation? Are we united as a nation? How can we be safe and who can make us united?
“These are the things that the media will be expected to project as we approach 2023.
“As we approach 2023, I want you to know that the party doesn’t matter, it’s the personality that matters,” he opined.
In his good will message, the Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, who was represented by Hon. Ahmed Mohammed, lauded Gbaramatu Voice for its contributions in the development of the Niger Delta.
“This kind of gathering gives me joy; this is a gathering that brings people together to deliberate on issues that will contribute immensely to the affairs of the Niger Delta people and country at large,” he enthused.
On his part, Deputy Governor of Delta State, Dcn. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, in his speech presented by his representative, Hon. Arex Akemotubo, commended Gbaramatu Voice and other media houses for providing balanced reportage of issues, and killing the syndrome of one-sided stories affecting the region and the country at large.
“As the fourth estate of the realm, the place of the media in promoting public awareness, advocacy, fairness, equity and framing political discuss cannot be overemphasized.
“I want to sincerely commend the management and staff of Gbaramatu Voice for their staunch dedication to this noble profession over the past years, especially in providing in balanced reportage of the issues that affect us as Niger Deltans.
“I want to also thank all the media practitioners that made it to the workshop, for their support and collaborative efforts, seeing that media is not aa one-man show. Horizontal collaborations like this very one is critical to killing the syndrome of one-sided story,” he noted.
The event was graced by eminent academics like Prof. Chairman Editorial Board GbaramatuVoice Newspaper, Prof. Tosan Harriman, and Dr. Monday Michael Ashibogwu who also harped on the importance and benefits of journalists making use of the social media space to develop their audience and financial resources.
The colourful awards presentations to journalists, who have walked and still walking the path of excellence in telling the Niger Delta stories, went to the Nigerian Tribune’s Chief Correspondent, Ebenezer Adurokiya, South South Regional Editor, Emmanuel Amaize, Mamode Akugha, CEO, Inside Niger Delta, Malcom Oteri, General Manager of Delta Broadcasting Service, Grace Ekanem of Channels Television, Acting Regional Editor, Egufe Yafugbori (Rivers); Vanguard Assistant Editor, Jimitota Onoyume and Ignatius Chukwu of Business Day, among others.
PHOTOS: Courtesy GbaramatuVoice
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