Edo government promises to strengthen state-owned media outfits

A new dawn is about to set at the Edo State owned media houses as governor Godwin Obaseki reiterated his administration commitment to ensure that the media houses become a formidable primary source of information.

Obaseki stated this when the  new executive of Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State council led by Mrs. Nefishetu Yakubu paid him a courtesy visit in Government House in Benin City, on Monday.

He said  ‘’Our goal is to reposition Edo as an information hub in this part of the world and we are working to resuscitate the state owned Nigerian Observer and Edo Broadcasting service.

‘He said the Nigerian Observer will be split into two components, the printing press and the publishing company while the Midwest Newspaper limited would also be restructured.

The governor said he did not believe in retrenchment of workers, but giving them the opportunity to improve themselves through training and retraining.

‘’The members of staff of these media outfits will be retrained on digital reportage and publishing”, he said.

The governor promised to support and work with the new executive of the correspondents’ chapel saying ‘’I believe in the freedom of the press and would support you in the discharge of your duties.

He also promised to digitize the chapel centre at the NUJ premises and make available a bus for the correspondents’ chapter, noting that the facilities were necessary especially as the 2019 electioneering period approaches

In her remarks, chairman of the Chapel commended the Obaseki led administration for delivering on the dividends of democracy to people of the state especially in providing conducive working environment for public service and investment in human capital development.

Yakubu said the visit was to present the new executives of the chapel to the governor and also to assure him of continuous fair and balanced reportage of all government activities.

‘’The Correspondent Chapel of the NUJ, as the largest constitution of accredited reporters of various media organisation, there should be a strong synergy between your government and the media for effective, credible and balanced reportage of government’s activities”,