The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has promised to continue to collaborate with the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), to ensure the effective dissemination of the right information to the citizens on government programmes.
The Governor who stated this during the Grand finale of the Kogi State NUJ press week, held at the Edgedrive Hotel Lokoja on Tuesday, noted that he has been able to provide the enabling environment for the Journalists to do their job unhindered, since his assumption of office in January this year.
Governor Ododo who was represented by his Special Adviser on Media, Ismaila Isah, urged Media Professionals in the state to continue to uphold the tenets of their profession by ensuring fair, balance and accurate reportage on issues bothering on the welfare of the the people and development of the state
He assured that the state owned Media house will continue receive the needed attention of his administration for them to perform optimally in the dissemination of information to the people of the state.
The National president of NUJ, Chief Chris Isiguzo, commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for sustaining the harmonious working relationship between the government and journalists in Kogi State.
The president who was represented by the Deputy National president of the union, comrade Alhasan Yahaya, called on Journalists to be mindful of their role to the society as agenda setters by adhering strictly ethics of their profession.
In his welcome address, the chairman of Kogi NUJ, Comrade Sheidu Haruna, commended the governor for the appointment of some members of the union to head the Graphic newspaper and the Kogi State Broadcasting cooperation, saying this has further ignite the bond between the government and the union.
Speaking further he said, “the impulse of my joy as Chairman specifically stems from the fact that the Council shall be conferring on our dear Governor, the grand patron of NUJ in line with the initiative of the National Executive Council of our Great Union and pragmatic leadership style of the President, Chief Chris Isiguzo which most states have done already.
“Let me therefore, use this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo for making a peaceful and friendly Kogi State possible for us as we hold this Press Week in a confident and joyous mood. And this demonstrates his commitment to responsiveness in governance. He has so far shown this to us as Kogi State NUJ.
“Your Excellency, your leadership style has endeared your Administration to us as a Union. Within a short time your Government has given the Media sector in the State the utmost attention it needed to perform and operate in a conducive atmosphere.
“Most notable of your achievements for the Media in the State is the ongoing facelift of the State Broadcasting Corporation( Radio Kogi). This has enhanced its performances. We are grateful to you your Excellency. Also, your recent appointment of one of us, Comrade YJ Itopa as the Managing Editor and Chief Executive Officer of The Graphic Newspaper Corporation is something that gladdened our hearts.
“That of the Radio Kogi Director General Hajia Nana Hauwa Yusuf came to us with the same pleasant feeling. You have effected this appointments to reposition the State Media outfits for greater impacts in terms of the State Information Management.
“Your Excellenceny, Itopa and Nana Yusuf will justify this confidence you have reposed in them. They will play the proverbial round peg in a round hole. I assure you.
“That not withstanding, let me remind and renew the call on the government to fulfill its promise of renovating the NUJ Lugard building at the Press Centre. This is long overdue. Since Government is a continuum, I trust our amiable Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo will fulfill this promise.
“We also have to remind the Government of its promise to donate a bus to the Council for the ease of the Council’s activities for the good of the state.
“Let me vividly tell the Government that Kogi State Council of NUJ is probably the only state in the Federation without a Bus and official vehicle for its Chairman. The provision of these will advance the corporate image of the state.
“Your Excellency Sir, it is my dream to add the renovation of the Press Centre Lugard building and the donation of the bus to my achievements as Kogi NUJ Chairman. Do it for me, your Excellenceny.
“Also to a brother, a partner in progress, the Special Adviser on Media to His Excellency, Ismail Isah, we say thank you for your availability, accessibility and friendly disposition towards us at all times.
He assured that practicing journalists in the state will continue to do their job with utmost sense of responsibility by holding Government accountable to the people.
He noted that journalists as agenda setter has carefully selected the topic for the 2024 press; “Celebrating Diversity, Promoting Unity: The Role of Media in Kogi State’s Ethnic Relations which was delivered by Prof. Akinwumi Olayemi, Vice Chancellor, Federal University Lokoja.