Toe the Line of Truth as the Voice of the People- Chief Primus Odili Tasks Anambra Journalists

By Njide Ezeonyejiaku

As the Anambra State gubernatorial election draws near, stakeholders have continued to call on journalists to pay attention to the information they disseminate to the public and ensure that they report nothing but the truth.

Speaking to journalists during their monthly Congress at the Godwin Ezeemo International Press Centre, NUJ secretariat Complex, Awka, the former Chief of Staff to former Governor Willie Obiano said Journalists can make or mar the society with the quality of their news reports and appealed to them to ensure that the information they disseminate to the public is not only verified but should be development oriented for the overall good of the society.

While appealing to Ndi Anambra to appreciate that APGA has done well in Anambra State since the party came on board with three successive administrations now where Mr. Peter Obi laid the foundation with his ANIDS Initiative which Chief Obiano continued and consolidated; Prof. Charles Soludo has taken Anambra development initiative a notch higher, stressing that continuity will be the best for the State.

Earlier, the NUJ State Chairman, Comrade Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu frowned at the havoc being unleashed on the polity by the so called Media Aids to Politicians whom he said lack the orientation for ethical journalism, calling on the public to be wary of what they see on the social media.

Presenting a lecture entitled: “Beyond the Paycheck: Life After Retirement”, a veteran Journalist, Dr. Azubike Nkala enjoined journalists to prepare for their retirement days while in active service.

“As you work hard and earn your pay, think of how your retirement would be. Think of whether the cheques would see you through in your retirement age”, he advised.

Comparing journalists practicing in Anambra State, Nigeria and the World, Dr. Nkala who teaches Journalism presently at Paul University, Awka noted that it is difficult to practice journalism in Anambra State with the extremely poor salary scale and the harsh environment, lamenting that the southeast is poorly reported while the conditions of retired journalists in the State is miserable. He advised them to improve themselves by enhancing their skills to obtain a stronger bargaining power for survival.

Also speaking, the CEO, Geeks and Founder’s Alliance for Soludo, GEFAS, Mr. Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata while sharing the experiences of Anambra State ICT Agency observed that the Soludo’s mantra of ‘everything technology and technology everywhere’ has provided a robust digital options leading to a digital transformation of the State.

Mr. Agbata stressed that governance across all sectors in the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies have become digitised which have greatly reduced the stress of civil servants, adding that Solution WiFi has been made available to the public at some designated public places, such as Aroma Junction, Eke Awka, ABS Bus Stand, Ukwu Orji and UNIZIK School Gate, among others.