Kogi NUJ Press Week: Ododo expresses commitment to transparency, accountability

***Commends journalists for unprecedented harmonious relationship

By Friday Idachaba

GOVERNOR Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has reiterated the commitment of his administration to transparency and accountability with a resolve towards upholding a robust engagement with the Media towards adequate information flow.

Ododo who disclosed this during the Grand Finale of the 2024 Press Week of state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) commended journalists in the state for the harmonious relationship with his government.

He noted that with his stance on transparency and accountability, there was need for the people to be adequately informed of his policies and programmes.

The Governor who was represented by his Special Adviser on Media, Ismail Isa said the his government was committed to building on the trajectory of the existing harmonious relationship with Media professionals in the state.

“We cannot achieve our objective of engaging with the people and serving them in the best way possible without the support of the media and it is on that basis that we have been deliberate in our relationship with the media.

“We have been very proud of the support that the administration has continued to received from the Media in the state and we promise to sustain the transparent and open door policy”, he said.

Ododo added that the request put before him by the NUJ Council would be granted very soon saying that the unprecedented level of support being accorded his administration by the media would not be taken for granted.

National President of the NUJ, Dr Chris Isiguzo in his speech, congratulated Kogi Council of the NUJ for successfully holding the Press Week and charged members on the need to constantly hold political office holders accountable.

He said that journalism was one of the professions in the country clearly mandated by the Constitution of Nigeria in Section 2, sub-section 22, to educate, sensitise and inform the general public and as well, hold government accountable.

Isiguzo who was represented by Deputy National President, Comr. Hassan Yahaya, commended the theme of this year’s Press week, “Diversity and Role of the Media In Promoting Unity” saying that unity of the country was one of the key areas the Media needed to project.

“Unity is important. I must commend the organisers for this initiative. This is our country. We can bring our own airwaves to sensitise and persuade our people to promote unity”, he said.

Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Lokoja (FUL) in his paper urged journalists to promote the positive aspects of the nation’s diversity rather than amplify the negative aspects.

He said that the Media had a great role to play in promoting unity in the state and in the country at large by avoiding issues of ethnicity and religion which according to him, are often used by politicians to manipulate the people.

“We are in the 21st Century and people are still talking about ethnic groups and religious partners to occupy certain political positions when we should be talking of merit. This is sad”, Prof. Akinwumi lamented.

Chairman of the occasion, His Royal Majesty, the Ohimege-Igu of Koton-Karfe, Alhaji Saidu Akawu Salihu in his opening remarks charged journalists to promote unity, ensure dialogue and continue to educate the people especially on health issues.

The monarch who was represented by Dr Abdulkareem Shaibu, noted that the traditional institution in the state was being under reported as he urged journalists to focus more on investigative journalism and showcase the culture and traditions of the people.

Speaking earlier, Alhaji Ademu Seidu, Chairman of Kogi Council of the NUJ commended Governor Ododo for his fraternal disposition with the Media describing it as a demonstration of his commitment to responsive governance in the state.

He thanked the governor for the appointment of some journalists, Mr Yusuf Jimoh Itopa as Managing Director of Kogi State owned Graphic Newspaper and Princess Nana Hauwa Yussuff as Director-general of the Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation.

Seidu solicited the Governor’s assistance in provision of working tools and logistics especially, a bus for the Council, thanked Media Consultant to the governor, Dr Yemi Kolapo for her intervention and the immediate and past leaders of the state council for the their cooperation. (Ends)