The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has called on journalists in the state to prioritize the interests of the state and country in their reporting. The Governor made this appeal on Wednesday while receiving journalists at the Imo Government House in Owerri.
The visit was led by the state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Imo State Council, Mr. Ifeanyi Nwanguma. The delegation included members of the Correspondents’ Chapel and the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Imo State Council.
Governor Uzodimma emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government and the media for effective democratic governance. “There must be synergy between the government and the press for true and functional democratic governance,” he stated.
He also highlighted the need for the media to provide constructive criticism while supporting the government with fact-based reporting. The Governor urged journalists to avoid antagonistic reporting and to demonstrate a commitment to objective and patriotic journalism. “Let the overriding interest in your duties as pressmen be patriotic; criticise objectively but also ensure you report the good works of the government. There can be no government without the media, so protect and partner with the government to help strengthen democracy in our country,” he said.
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Addressing the current economic challenges in the country, Governor Uzodimma urged the press to educate the public on the long-term benefits of federal government policies. “As a nation, we must endure temporary hardship in the struggle to recalibrate the country. The people might feel the impact for a short while, but the long-term benefits are enormous. Please do your duties by enlightening the people on the benefits of these policies of government,” he explained.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Imo Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr. Chinonso Alozie, stated that the visit aimed to strengthen the relationship between the chapel and the state government. Alozie expressed the chapel’s desire to identify areas of partnership in line with its core mandate of developmental journalism. He also called for greater inclusion of the press to facilitate better coverage of government activities and programs, and he commended the Governor for his developmental projects, particularly in road construction.
Dr. Dorothy Nnaji, the state Chairman of NAWOJ, also praised the Governor for recognizing the press in the state and appealed for more support to enable the group to carry out development programs, especially health campaigns for rural women.
A highlight of the visit was the Governor’s donation of a 14-seater bus each to the Correspondents’ Chapel and NAWOJ.
