By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has approved the appointment of a seasoned Journalist and Author, Mr Yusuf Jimoh Itopa as the new Managing Director of Kogi owned Graphic Newspapers.
Mr Elijah Evinemi, the State Head of Civil Service (HOS) announced the appointment of Itopa, a graduate of Theater Arts from the University of Ibadan (UI) in his office on Friday in Lokoja.
The Head of Service said that aside the appointment of Managing Director of the Graphic Newspapers, other Ministry, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) whose heads had been in acting capacity were given confirmation by the Governor.
Evinemi charged the new MD of Graphic Newspapers to live up to expectations by ensuring that he used the media house to propagate and promote government policies and programmes.
“By this appointment, you are the mouthpiece of the state government. Go there and key into the system in order to fulfil the statutory mandate of the Graphic Newspaper.
“You should showcase your worth as an experienced journalist so that you can justify this appointment by performing creditably well to the admiration of the Governor, the state and your professional colleagues,” he stated.
In his remark, the immediate past chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kogi State Council, Comrade Adeiza Momoh-Jimoh thanked Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for the appointment of Itopa.
Momoh-Jimoh expressed optimism that the new MD would perform beyond expectations as he appealed to the state government to give all necessary support to the media house to enhance its operations within and outside the state.
“I am using this medium to appeal to Kogi State Government to give maximum financial support to Graphic Newspaper so that people outside Kogi State can be reading the paper”, he said.
In his words of appreciation, the new Managing Director promised not to disappoint the Governor and all those who were instrumental to his appointment.
“I will try my best to ensure that we do our best in ensuring that we promote government policies.
“I was in the Graphic Newspapers for over 12 years before I moved to the Ministry of Information. The experience is there for me to harness”, he said.
Itopa solicited government support and collaboration to enable him achieve his set objectives and thanked Governor Ododo for considering him worthy of the appointment. (Ends)