Sen. Enang, A’ibom First Lady charge Journalists on objective reporting, laud Correspondents Chapel
By Ogenyi Ogenyi,, Uyo
Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to the Republic of South Africa, Sen. Ita Enang, has charged media practitioners in Nigeria to ensure that their reportage of activities leading up to the 2027 general elections aligns wholly with the electoral laws of the land.
This is even as the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady of Akwa Ibom Mrs Helen Obareki has urged media practitioners in the state to continue to aligne their reports with the realities of the Arise Agenda of the state government and avoid sensationalism in the run up to the 2027 general elections.
They gave the charge at the Annual Dinner and Award Night and Launching of the N15 million Solar Power Project by the Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, in Uyo at the weekend.
Enang who was the Chairman of the occasion said that journalists in the state could build democracy and shape the Arise Agenda legacy of the Governor Umo Eno’s administration through positive reportage.
“In your reportage of politics and activities leading up to the 2027 electoral process, please read first the Electoral Act, and its provisions. Let your reports be aligned with the position of the law and according to the electoral laws of the land.
“Let every person have free access to the courts; let us jointly protect our democracy,” Ita Enang said, adding that he would not hesitate to head to the courts if he felt that certain provisions of the electoral Act were breached.
Obareki in her remark lauded members of the Chapel for their numerous contributions towards propagating the Arise Agenda and the activities of her office and thanked the organisers for the theme of the event, “From Insight To Action: The Role Of The Media In Shaping The Arise Agenda Legacy” of the state government.
In his keynote address on the “Role of the Media in shaping the Arise Agenda Legacy in Akwa Ibom State”, Dr Emmanuel Abraham, said that the media as integral part of the ARISE Agenda, should transform it from a mere policy document into not only an inspiration but a life, lived, and living experiences for the government and the people of the state.
“By focusing on developmental journalism, the media should help to document and define a legacy centred on improved welfare, inclusive growth, and strategic development sustained through Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructural Maintenance, Security Management, and Educational/Health Advancement.
“The media’s role in the Agenda should own and emphasise the Renaissance and rebirth aspects of the agenda, signalling its can-do, must-do, and should-do spirits of the Akwa Ibom man,” he said.
The keynote speaker, who is Founder/Chairman, Board of Trustees, Topfaith Group of Schools and Topfaith University, Mkpatak in Akwa Ibom, also urged the press to transform the agenda from the jargon to the real prosperity agenda for the people of Akwa Ibom State.
He also urged the state. government to intentionally approach the Agenda with determined philosophical focus and deeper meaning as it connects development indices and provide the foundation for the agenda to become a long-term development roadmap to outlive the current administration of the state.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Comrade Bassey Anthony, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council, who welcomed participants said that their presence underscod the high regard they had for the media as partners in progress.
The events also featured presentation of awards, launching of the solar power project, and the unveiling of the 6th edition of the Critique Magazine published by the Correspondents’ Chapel, among others.
