Obiano Appeals to Journalists to Support his Vision for New Anambra, Donates bus to NUJ

Princess Ifeoma Anumba, Secretary and Mr. Henry Nwasike, Chairman all of NUJ, Anambra State Chapter receiving the key to the bus donated by the Anambra State Government from Hon Tony Onyima, Commissioner for Information.

The governor of Anambra State has appealed to members of the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) to join hands with him in building a new Anambra State that will reflect the aspirations and pride of Ndi Anambra.

Speaking at a Special One-Day Training organized for journalists in Awka at the weekend, under the theme – Onitsha: The Imperatives of Developmental Journalism, Chief Obiano assured the journalists that his administration was fully aware of the enormous powers of the media which had become even more so with the advent of the Internet and the subsequent explosion of the social media.

The governor who was represented by the Hon. Commissioner for Information, Chief Tony Onyima, spoke passionately about his vision for Ndi Anambra and further observed that “no leader, no matter how great, can achieve a remarkable success without the full support of his people. We also know that a leader can only inspire change in his people if his vision and dreams are fully understood and accepted by his people.”

Governor Obiano therefore observed that “the crucial role of the mass media in National Development can be located in the nexus between the vision of leadership and its understanding and acceptance by the people. The role of the mass media is to provide that critical link; that dual carriageway between the enunciated vision of leadership and its acceptance and eventual animation by the people. Gentlemen of the Press, it was this understanding that informed the theme of this gathering – Onitsha: The Imperatives of Developmental Journalism,” he further maintained.

The governor also described the theme of the Training as very appropriate in view of the swell of bad press that has trailed the commercial city of Onitsha for quite some time.

Said he; “The choice of this topic is highly instructive, as the ancient city of Onitsha carries a lot of significance in the history of the Nigerian press. As the hometown of the Right Honourable Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Great Zik of Africa and Nigeria’s foremost nationalist who fought the colonial masters with his enormous journalistic powers and left a monumental legacy for the Nigerian press, Onitsha will always be important to Nigerian journalism. And if Onitsha is important to Nigerian journalism, the rest of Anambra State will be important to the Nigerian press too.”

According to him, his administration has adopted a revolutionary approach in addressing the numerous development challenges of Anambra State. Said he; “We have seen this in the war against criminals in Anambra State. We have seen it in the Agricultural sector and in the flag off of the construction of new roads, bridges and other infrastructure in Anambra State. We have also seen it in the area of the Environment. Just yesterday, I undertook an unscheduled tour of Onitsha and I saw a cleaner and saner city that is fast shedding off its old, rusty outlook.”

He however observed that without a steady and committed support from the media, all his activities in the state would fall below the mark. “That is why I am proud to announce here today that we have perfected plans to rebuild and reposition the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) and the National Light Newspaper to gain a sizeable share of voice in the media market and help us spread the fire of our revolution to distant climes. I have no doubt that very soon; Ndi Anambra will see an all new ABS and National Light that will tell our stories in a more compelling way to the rest of the world,” the governor assured.

Governor Obiano also paid glowing tributes to illustrious sons of the state who had made their mark in journalism, pointing out that “Anambra State has produced some of Nigeria’s finest journalists. Apart from the Great Zik of Africa, Anambra has produced the feisty MCK Ajuluchukwu, the philosophical Mokwugo Okoye, the intellectual Okey Ikechukwu, the engaging Okey Ndibe, Okey Ifionu, Maxim Uzoatu and other distinguished journalists, far too many to mention here.”

He however reminded journalists in the state to be careful of how they use the power they have as the repository of the wishes of the masses pointing out that Anambra State belongs to all – “it does not matter whether you are an indigene or a resident. We have a collective responsibility to secure and promote this state. But if we choose to set our collective roof on fire with our pens, we should all be prepared for the discomfort of homelessness.”

Meanwhile, delivering the Keynote Speech, a Public Relations expert and co-founder/Chairman and Chief Executive of   C&F Porter Novelli, Mr. Nn’emeka Maduegbuna observed that the UN – Habitat Sustainable Urban Development, noted that Onitsha was rated among the five fastest growing cities in the world.

 Maduegbuna who brought his close to three decades of experience in strategic communications planning, corporate positioning and reputation management, as well as extensive practice in the areas of issues and crisis management and litigation communications to bear on the topic stated that key elements of development communication entail establishing common grounds, ensuring community participation, access and visibility of government and use of simple and relevant language.

To achieve result, he said efforts should be made in   ensuring that concepts were packaged, understanding  reached with communities who are recipients of the information/message, planning done with  the communities and  government functionaries  brought face  to face with communities.

Giving a graphic view of the reportage of Onitsha in the Nigerian press from April to June this year, Mr Maduegbuna observed that most of the stories that were published in the Nigerian press on Onitsha were essentially on crime, therefore projecting a single story of the city.

According to him, a look at the reports in the Nigerian press in the period under review shows ; Security/Crime - 31%, Governance/Welfare/Rights of Citizens - 23%, Obi of Onitsha - 22%, Infrastructure/Environment - 12%, Economic Development - 6%, Heritage - 3%, Politics - 2%,  and Education 1%.

Arguing that communication is an important machinery for national development, Maduegbuna pointed out that the building of partnership with  the people means that  government has an obligation to ensure dialogue with the citizenry as dialogue according to him,  facilitates active citizens’ participation in transformation of society  and ensures government’s sensitivity to the needs of people.

Maduegbuna who also had a brief stint with   Nigerian Television Authority Network News (NTA News) as a reporter, producer and anchor person as well as  the first Business Correspondent of the Network, said to build partnership,  information  machinery needed are research/analysis, coordination and media relation, communication services and government and information services.

The task ahead, according to him, was to circulate knowledge that would inform the audience of development issues, provide a forum for discussion of development issues, teach those ideas, skills and values that people need to achieve a better life, and create and maintain a base of consensus that was needed for the stability of the community.

The event attracted all the bureau chiefs and correspondents of leading national dailies in Anambra State. It ended with the presentation of a brand new bus to the state Chapel of the NUJ by the Hon Commissioner for Information, Chief Tony Onyima. 

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